Accused of Taking Property by Force or Threat?
Any conviction for robbery almost surely means prison time. If the robbery involved a gun or bodily harm, the mandatory sentence will be much harsher. If the prosecution can put you at the scene, there are only two real options — take your chances at trial or try to get a favorable deal to minimize the penalty. Either way, you need smart legal advice and aggressive representation.
I am Francis E. Farren, a Delaware criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor with extensive experience on both sides of the law in robbery charges. I will do everything I can to put you in the best possible position for a jury trial or plea negotiations.
Contact me today for a free initial consultation if you or a family member were arrested for robbery. I practice in New Castle County and statewide in Delaware.
Delaware Bank Robbery Defense Lawyer
Robbery is defined as taking property by force or threat of violence. It is always a felony, but there are different levels of the offense and factors that enhance the penalties:
- Second-degree robbery, or simple robbery, would be a mugging, purse-snatching or other theft of property by physical force or threat of bodily harm. If the victim was injured, additional charges of felony assault may apply.
- First-degree robbery, or armed robbery, is a hold-up in which a firearm or other deadly weapon is used, such as robbing a convenience store at gunpoint or a person at knifepoint. The "threat" of a gun is all that is needed to elevate a second-degree robbery to first-degree robbery. You need not be actually armed with a weapon! The mandatory minimum for conviction is three years in prison.
- Any prior conviction for robbery increases the minimum sentence for first-degree robbery to five years.
- Armed robbery (with or without a gun) is a federal felony, with even harsher penalties and less opportunity to negotiate.
- Home invasion robbery is punished most severely, as it may include elements of first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, felony assault and kidnapping. In a recent case, a Wilmington man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for this offense.
With your freedom on the line, I apply my experience as a former deputy attorney general to challenge the prosecution's case. How reliable is the identification? What other evidence ties you to the alleged robbery? If you are connected, what was your role? Did authorities overstep your constitutional rights in your arrest, search, warrants or questioning?
My goal is to get charges reduced, evidence suppressed or the case dropped entirely. If the prosecution has good facts to convict you, I will aggressively negotiate for the best deal possible.
You need a Delaware robbery defense attorney who knows how to protect your rights and counter the charges. Call me statewide at 866-603-4647 to arrange a free in-office consultation.
