Charged With Robbery? Your Fight For Freedom Starts Here.

Of all theft crimes, robbery is among the most serious because it is committed in the presence of a victim. Burglary, for instance, is committed without the victim being present, so you can imagine how serious a robbery charge can be. Robbery is a felony in Texas.

For these reasons and more, you need aggressive defense if you’re accused of robbery. Hiring our team at Peter Barrett: Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney to represent and defend you is an easy choice. Attorney Barrett is your first line of defense who can help prevent a bad situation from getting worse. A robbery charge is severe enough, but with our firm in your corner, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.

Defining Robbery And Aggravated Robbery In Texas

A person commits robbery if they commit one of the following acts in the course of committing theft with the intent to obtain or control the property:

• Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another
• Intentionally or knowingly threatens or places another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death

An aggravated robbery charge is even more serious. A person commits aggravated robbery if they commit robbery and do one or more of the following:

• Cause serious bodily injury to another
• Use or exhibit a deadly weapon
• Cause bodily injury to another person or threaten or place another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, if the other person is 65 or older or a disabled person

Aggravating factors increase the severity or culpability of an offense, which is why the penalties for aggravated robbery are harsher than those for robbery.

Understanding Sentencing For A Robbery Conviction

Robbery is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. As you can see, the state does not mess around when it comes to punishing convicted robbers. Inflicting bodily injury or threatening to do so is a criminal offense in itself, but doing so while committing theft calls for robbery charges.

Aggravated robbery is considered first-degree felony and is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and/or $10,000 in fines.

What Are The Differences Between Robbery And Aggravated Robbery?

The key differences between robbery and aggravated robbery are the degrees of injury to the victim and the involvement of a deadly weapon. To give you a better understanding, take a look at some examples of robbery below:

• Yanking a purse from someone’s hand
• Assaulting a person in order to obtain their money
• Pressing an object at a person’s back, giving the illusion that it’s a gun, while stealing money from their pockets
• Threatening to kill someone if they don’t hand over their car keys

For comparison, the following examples would likely be considered aggravated robbery:

• Pointing a gun at someone while demanding their wallet
• Breaking someone’s neck while stealing their diamond necklace
• Holding a knife to someone’s neck and demanding they hand over their money
• Robbing a disabled person and threatening to push them out of their wheelchair

Regardless of whether you are charged with robbery or aggravated robbery, our primary goal is to get your charges reduced or dismissed altogether. You are innocent until proven guilty, and we will fight to maintain your innocence no matter how severe or complex your allegations are.

Discuss Your Rights And Options During An Initial Consultation

Count on Peter Barrett to fiercely defend your rights, powerfully argue your case in court, and closely guide you throughout your case every step of the way. To schedule your initial consultation, call us in Dallas at 214-506-2896 or reach out online. We serve clients throughout Texas.