Any charge of violence including armed robbery and theft should be taken seriously. However, one of the more intimidating differences between armed robbery and theft in Ft. Lauderdale is the possibility of being charged with a felony as opposed to a misdemeanor. An armed robbery offense in Ft. Lauderdale is automatically considered a felony in the eyes of the law.
Anyone convicted of a felony charge could find it extremely difficult to secure employment, earn a living, and qualify for housing loans, scholarships, and professional licenses following a conviction. If you have been charged with this offense, contact an experienced armed robbery attorney at Leifert & Leifert today.
Significant Differences Between Armed Robbery and Theft
One of several differences between armed robbery and theft in Ft. Lauderdale is in regards to the deprivation of the item from the owner. Theft is defined as the taking of something without the owner’s consent. Robbery, on the other hand, is the forceful taking of something from someone through the use of a weapon.
For example, if a person were to take someone’s bicycle from the owner’s garage, the offense would be classified as theft. If a person were to hit someone off their bicycle with a bat and take the bike, that would be considered an armed robbery. Due to the use of forceful and violent nature of this offense, armed robbery is prosecuted much more severely than theft.
Potential Penalties Following an Armed Robbery Offense
The possible penalties associated with armed robbery in Ft. Lauderdale makes the crime more severe than theft. All armed robbery cases are classified as first-degree felonies. However, not all theft cases are felonies since many are misdemeanors. Usually, felony theft is a lower-level felony, so the potential penalties are less severe in comparison to an armed robbery offense. Armed robbery is punished much more severely since it is violent and more serious offense than the average theft case.
Negotiating an Armed Robbery Charged Down to a Theft Charge
From a prosecutorial standpoint, it sometimes becomes apparent to the prosecutor that they might not end up with a conviction if they pursue the robbery charge. For example, if the case is defended well enough where a prosecutor might feel that if they could lose at trial, there may be a pending motion to dismiss or motion to suppress. In this instance, the prosecution may be willing to reach a middle ground resolution on a theft-related charge instead of an armed robbery charge.
In cases where a particular disposition might have a devastating consequence to the alleged perpetrator, and the alleged victim in the case is not necessarily an objection to a resolution, an attorney may negotiate a reduction of charge or sentence based on the consequences or the circumstances. More often than not, a defense lawyer may convince a prosecutor that their case is so weak it is better for them to reach an alternative resolution or reduction of charge than being put in a position where they might lose the case.
Contact Our Seasoned Lawyers Today
Due to the severe penalties a person could incur following a conviction for an armed robbery offense, it is imperative that those who have been charged get in touch with an attorney immediately. One of the main differences between armed robbery and theft in Ft. Lauderdale is that you could potentially be giving a life sentence if found guilty for armed robbery. With this in mind, if you have been accused of committing an armed robbery offense, contact our criminal defense lawyers at Leifert & Leifert today to get started on building a defense for your case.
