If you are ever accused, or even suspected of robbery, your liberty is at risk.  You should immediately contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer.  These cases can be very complicated.  They need to be investigated right away to make sure that evidence is preserved, that witnesses are interviewed, and that possible defenses are evaluated.  Having handled many robbery cases in the past, I can assure you that the earlier I get involved in the case, the more effective I can be in obtaining a favorable result.It is never a good idea to try to represent yourself in any criminal case, especially something as serious as robbery; but it is certainly helpful to know a little about the subject.  Robbery is a crime against a person, not against property.  While it does involve the intent to commit a theft, which is a property crime, even if you don’t actually acquire the property, you may still be charged with robbery.  Also, if a person completely commits an assault, and then commits a theft immediately afterwards, that is not a robbery.

in Texas robbery is a second degree felony, which is ordinarily punishable by possible confinement in prison from two (2) to twenty (20) years.  If certain “aggravating” circumstances are present (serious bodily injury, exhibiting a deadly weapon, elderly or disabled victim), the case can be elevated to aggravated robbery, a first degree felony.  Ordinarily a first degree felony can be punished by confinement of five (5) years to ninety nine (99) years, or life.  A fine of as much as $10,000.00 can also be assessed.

In my experience as a criminal defense lawyer, people are justifiably uncomfortable and surprised when they first learn that a person can be convicted of robbery (and other crimes) on the testimony of just one witness.  This “one witness” rule can lead to some very harsh results because juries are often sympathetic to a robbery victims who claim to be 100% certain in their identity of the person accused.  Everyone knows that anybody can make a mistake.  Tragically, there are documented cases of people being convicted on the mistaken identification testimony of witnesses, including one-witness cases.  Eyewitness identification testimony, especially one-witness identification testimony, is a particularly sensitive area that must be handled with extreme caution by a skilled lawyer.

Of course, each case is different.  That is why a competent and experienced criminal lawyer should be promptly retained to review all of the underlying evidence, speak directly to all available witnesses, and evaluate any possible defenses.  Typical defenses include alibi (“I was somewhere else at the time”), the witness is mistaken, and many others.  The defense must be based on the facts of the specific case.

So, when someone from law enforcement suggests that you, or one of your loved ones, might somehow be involved in a robbery, you need to call a lawyer.  If you need to call me, an criminal defense lawyer am readily available.

[AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Having practiced criminal law in Texas, primarily in Houston, for many years, I have spent countless hours explaining various aspects of the law to clients, prospective clients and people who are simply curious about the law.  Whenever I do so, I exercise great caution to stress that a quick explanation, or even a lengthy explanation, can never fully account for all of the complexities that are sure to arising in handling any specific case.  All criminal cases, from seemingly the most minor to obviously the most complex, should be handled by a properly trained and experienced criminal defense attorney.

These articles, and all of the material contained in this website are only intended to provide a general overview of the topics discussed.  And while they may contain some very useful information to the reader, theses articles must not be viewed as a substitute for specific legal advice.  Unless otherwise stated, all comments refer to Texas law.

Always choose your lawyer carefully.

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