Aggravated Robbery
Criminal Offenses
Houston Aggravated Robbery Charges
Aggravated Robbery charges must be taken seriously and fought vigorously. If one is charged with aggravated Robbery, it is treated as a first-degree felony even for a first offense and one can end up in prison for life. The lines separating theft from robbery and aggravated robbery may be thin but the resulting penalties and prison time are not.
That is why a person charged with Aggravated Robbery should secure the services of an experienced Houston criminal lawyer such as Joaquin Jimenez to mount a strong defense to be able to significantly reduce prison time, if not prevent a conviction altogether.
Aggravated Robbery Laws in Houston
Under Texas laws, robbery is defined as an act where a person commits an act of theft and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to the victim or intentionally or knowing threatens or places the victim in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. If you are familiar with assault, the second segment of the provision draws some parallel, which should also help us understand aggravated robbery.
For Aggravated Robbery to be established, one or more of the following elements must be present:
Serious bodily injury - This is an injury that causes a permanent or an extended loss of use of a body part or organ. Examples of serious bodily injury include but are not limited to blindness, deafness, paralysis, being crippled, and inability to use an arm or leg in the same capacity before the injury happened.
Use of a Deadly Weapon - Objects such as knives, guns, and knuckle dusters are inherently dangerous and can easily be established as deadly weapons. However, other tools such as baseball bats, ropes, folding chairs, depending on the circumstances and the manner by which they are utilized in the commission of the crime can also fall under deadly weapons
Victim is elderly or disabled - An elderly person is anyone aged 65 and above while a disabled person is anyone with a mental, physical, or developmental disability that is unable to protect himself or herself from harm.
Multiple elements have to be established to make an aggravated robbery charge stick. This is where the services of Joaquin Jimenez may prove crucial such as disproving or casting doubts on some elements. Joaquin Jimenez can also advocate for his clients even before charges are brought to ensure that the worst possible outcomes are avoided.
Aggravated Robbery Penalties
As mentioned above, aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony which carries a prison sentence of 5 to 99 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Since the range of the prison term is quite large, the judge will take into consideration multiple factors during sentencing to determine jail time such as prior criminal records, participation in the crime (main offender or accessory), was anyone injured during the commission of the crime, and display of remorse or regret, among others.
Aggravated robbery penalties can be very debilitating. Securing the services of a Houston criminal lawyer can ensure that the defendant is given a fighting chance by mounting a solid defense. If a conviction is inevitable, an experienced Houston criminal lawyer can at least mitigate the forthcoming prison term by highlighting favorable circumstances that would be crucial during sentencing.
Aggravated Robbery Houston Lawyer That Will Fight For You
If you or anyone you know is arrested for aggravated robbery, they should immediately hire the services of an experienced Houston criminal lawyer to guarantee that they have a sound strategy for defense throughout the whole ordeal. The right lawyer can change the trajectory of how an aggravated robbery charge would play out. Hire a lawyer that is compassionate who will do his best to reach an outcome that is best for you and your family. Call us now to schedule a consultation.
