How To Defeat Robbery Charges In Orange County
Are you facing prison time for a robbery in Orange County? If so, the first thing you need to do is hire a skilled defense lawyer. Our law firm has over 40 years of experience defeating robbery charges throughout Southern California. The good news is you can call us today for a free consultation with no obligation.
You’ve probably heard of California’s Three Strikes Law, which increases penalties for violent felony offenses like robbery. So if you’re convicted of this crime and have prior strikes on your record, you could face double the sentence or 25 years to life. However, you can fight a robbery conviction and avoid the harsh consequences of a felony strike with the right legal strategy.
Let’s go over the definition of robbery in California and the most effective defenses for this crime.
What The Prosecution Must Prove To Convict You
It’s important to understand these elements because they are critical to your defense. The prosecution must prove that you’re guilty of all elements for a robbery conviction, which include the following:
- You took someone’s property.
- When you took the property, it was in the other person’s “possession or immediate presence.”
- You took property without consent or against their will.
- You used force or caused fear to prevent them from resisting.
- You intended to take the property permanently or keep it from the owner and deny them the majority of its value or enjoyment.
The penalties for robbery are harsh in Orange County. For a first-degree robbery conviction, you face 3 to 6 years in state prison and 2 to 5 years for a second-degree conviction. In addition to this, the court can increase your sentence if you injured someone, used a firearm, or have prior strikes. So your robbery sentence could quickly add up when you consider sentence enhancements and the Three Strikes Law. You don’t want to spend years behind bars. Call us today for your free consultation.
Fight Robbery Charges With Effective Defense Strategies
If you want to beat a robbery charge, it’s crucial to challenge the above elements, which is why you need the help of a skilled robbery attorney in Orange County, CA. Our legal team can investigate your case and build a solid strategy for your case. Some defenses to robbery in the past include:
- Lack Of Force/Fear - For example, your roommate accuses you of threatening him and taking money from his wallet. However, he was drunk at the time of the alleged robbery, and while you did take his money, you never threatened him or used violence. In this case, we can likely get your charges reduced to theft which carries lesser penalties.
- Right To Property - Let’s say the money in your roommate’s wallet was his part of the rent. While he was drunk, you took the money and paid the bills. We could argue you had a right to the property because it was money owed for rent, and you didn’t use fear or force. If successful, the court can drop your charges since the prosecution must prove you took property that wasn’t yours.
- Mistaken Identity - Returning to the above example, suppose your friend accuses you of robbery the next day, but you didn’t take the money. Maybe he was confused because he had too much to drink. At your trial, we’d argue someone else robbed him, and your attorney would present evidence of his confusion during cross-examination. We also may present witnesses as alibis for you.
- False Accusations - Sometimes, people make up stories of robbery and other crimes just to get revenge. For example, your roommate gets mad at you for moving out and files a false report with the Orange County police. By examining texts, emails, and witness testimony, we could find evidence of his lie. Of course, if we convince the court, robbery charges would be dropped, and he’d likely face charges for filing a false report under PC 148.5.
Call Wallin & Klarich Today
While you may think a conviction is unavoidable, that’s not always the case, and you shouldn’t just go to court and plead guilty. You may regret doing so for the rest of your life. At the very least, it’s important to consult with an experienced defense attorney in Orange County. Our robbery defense attorneys have defended clients charged with robbery and helped them get charges dropped or dismissed for over 40 years. We’re here to help you!
You may not be aware of all your options. Calling our office costs you nothing, but picking up the phone could be the difference between years in prison and years of freedom. Let our skilled attorneys examine your case to find the best way to avoid prison.
With offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville, West Covina, Torrance, and Los Angeles, there is an experienced Wallin & Klarich sex crime defense lawyer available nearby who is ready to defend you or a loved one.
Think about what you stand to lose. Contact us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL for your free phone consultation.
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