Tampa Criminal Defense Attorneys Explain How to Fight Robbery Charges in Florida

Gettin’ charged with a crime like robbery can be real scary. Believe me, I know. As a Tampa criminal defense attorney, I’ve seen it all. But don’t worry – there’s hope. Lots of folks get wrongly accused or face charges way outta line with what really happened. So take a deep breath. We’ll figure this thing out together.

First off, what exactly is robbery in Florida? Legally speakin’, robbery means takin’ someone’s property by force or threat of force. Kinda like theft but with violence or intimidation. The key is it’s takin’ from a person directly, not just breakin’ into a buildin’.

Now robbery charges can range from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies dependin’ on how it went down. Pointin’ a gun at someone to take their wallet? That’s armed robbery – a very serious first-degree felony. Just snatchin’ a purse and runnin’ off is probably “strong arm” robbery – a second-degree felony.

You Didn’t Actually Steal Anything

Sounds obvious right? But sometimes folks get blamed for robberies they didn’t even do. Maybe security cameras just caught someone who looks like you. Or a witness misidentified you out of a lineup. Without solid evidence you took any property, there’s reasonable doubt.

There Was No Weapon Involved

Lots of robbery accusations claim a weapon was used for intimidation. But if there’s no gun or knife or anything, it’s harder to prove. We can argue it was just a heated exchange that got outta hand. No weapon could mean reduced charges.

You Had a Legal Right to the Property

If it’s your property in the first place – like collectin’ a debt or repossessin’ somethin’ – it ain’t robbery. You had a legal claim to it. The other person will say different of course, but it’s your word against theirs.

You Acted in Self-Defense

If someone attacks you and you fight back to protect yourself, that ain’t robbery. Even if you end up takin’ some of their property, you were legally defending yourself, not stealin’.

False Accusations Happe

Some folks falsely accuse others of robbery out of anger, jealousy, or mental illness. It happens way more than you’d think. With no solid evidence against you, we can argue it’s a false claim.

See, there’s lots of ways to defend yourself even for serious charges like robbery. Don’t go it alone here – get yourself an experienced criminal defense attorney. We know how to negotiate with prosecutors and pick apart their evidence.

Here in Tampa, I’ve seen robbery charges dropped, reduced, and beaten at trial plenty of times. But you gotta act fast once you’re charged. Evidence can disappear quick, so time is of the essence. Call me anytime 24/7 and we’ll get to work protectin’ your rights. I offer free consultations, so you’ve got nothin’ to lose.