Robbery Lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati Robbery Lawyers

Robbery in Ohio entails taking another’s property through force or inciting fear. Robbery is more severe than many other theft or burglary offenses. With consequences including prison, a felony conviction, and more, you’ll want to explore every option with a criminal defense lawyer’s help.

But robbery convictions are not guaranteed. Regardless of what happened, a robbery defense lawyer can investigate, negotiate, and advocate to resolve the matter best. This could be a reduced charge, a favorable plea, or proving your innocence. At Luftman, Heck, & Associates, our defense team understands the gravity of your situation and how to deal with Cincinnati robbery effectively charges head-on.

Let LHA get to work on your robbery defense and guide you through each step of the process. Call (513) 338-1890 for a free and confidential consultation.

Robbery Charges in Cincinnati

Ohio Revised Code (ORC 2911.02), describes robbery as inflicting, attempting to inflict, or threatening physical harm during or immediately after a theft offense.

Robbery charges can vary wildly based on certain factors. For instance, if a deadly weapon was used during the robbery or the victim suffered severe physical harm, the charges, and potential penalties can be escalated.

• Third-degree felony robbery: This involves the use or threat of force without a weapon.
• Second-degree felony robbery: This comes into play if the accused used a deadly weapon or led the victim to believe they had a weapon.
• First-degree felony robbery: This is the most serious form of robbery and involves causing serious physical harm to another person by committing a theft.

Robbery Vs. Burglary

Many people think robbery and burglary are the same offense. But in reality, they are distinct crimes.

Robbery involves direct interaction with the victim, often involving violence or the threat of violence. Conversely, burglary, as outlined in ORC 2911.12, involves trespassing into an occupied structure or a separately secured or separately occupied portion of an occupied structure to commit any criminal offense.

Robbery vs. Theft

Unlike robbery, theft (ORC 2913.02) does not require the perpetrator to engage directly with or threaten the victim. Instead, theft involves unlawfully taking someone else’s property to deprive the owner of its use or possession.

When Robbery Charges Apply

The crime of Robbery involves more than just theft. The use or threat of force against another person is critical and elevates offenses to robberies. Here are some situations that may lead to Cincinnati robbery charges:

• Muggings: One of the more common types of robbery in Cincinnati, mugging refers to a person threatening or using force to steal money or property from another.
• Bank Robberies: While less common than a mugging, bank robberies are high-stakes crimes that involve stealing money from a bank, typically involving the threat or use of force.
• Carjacking: This is a robbery where an individual uses force or intimidation to steal a car from its driver.
• Home Invasions: If a person allegedly breaks into an occupied home intending to commit theft and uses force or threats of force, it can be considered a form of robbery.
• Commercial Robberies: This occurs when someone uses force or threats to steal from a business, such as a retail store, restaurant, or other commercial establishment.

Ohio Robbery Penalties

The penalties for a robbery conviction depend on the facts of your case. Examples include whether a deadly weapon was used or if you inflicted harm.

When a deadly weapon is involved, or you inflicted, attempted to inflict, or threatened physical harm, you’ll likely be charged with a second-degree felony robbery. This can be punished with two to eight years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.

If your robbery case is less severe, and you only used or threatened the immediate use of force, you’ll typically face a third-degree felony. This is punished with one to five years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Aggravated Robbery

Ohio Revised Code (ORC 2911.01) also describes aggravated robbery. This robbery offense is a first-degree felony in Ohio, is reserved for even more severe circumstances, and has steeper penalties if convicted.

Aggravated robbery typically happens when an individual:

• Has a deadly weapon on them or under their control,
• Inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict physical harm on another,
• Removes or attempts to remove a deadly weapon from the possession of a law enforcement officer when the officer is acting within the scope of their duties.

Ohio law also considers it aggravated robbery if you commit, attempt, or flee after a theft that results in serious physical harm. A conviction may result in a prison sentence ranging from 3 to 11 years and fines up to $20,000.

Consequences of a Robbery Conviction

If convicted of felony robbery, other areas of your life may be profoundly impacted. In addition to prison and fines, a conviction could be on your record for life.

For example, you may face difficulty keeping or finding a job, furthering your education, difficulty financially, obtaining loans, maintaining professional licensures, and keeping custody of your children.

Why Get a Robbery Lawyer?

Individuals are charged with robbery in Cincinnati every day. A knowledgeable and compassionate attorney will deeply understand criminal law and the statutes related to robbery. They can explain the charges, possible penalties, and legal processes. Once your situation is understood, your attorney can thoroughly review the facts, identify potential weaknesses, and develop a robust defense strategy tailored to your charges.

A robbery defense lawyer can

• Negotiate with prosecutors to potentially reduce or dismiss charges
• Facilitate a plea to lesser charges or a favorable sentence
• Represent your interests at trial if necessary
• Challenge evidence and cross-examine alleged witnesses
• Help limit the negative impact of a robbery conviction

Possible Robbery Defense Strategies

Regardless of what a prosecutor or police officer tells you, being charged with robbery in Cincinnati does not guarantee you’ll be convicted. With help from an attorney, you can present a compelling defense.
Here are a few of the defense strategies commonly used in robbery cases:

• Lack of Evidence: The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the robbery. You shouldn’t be convicted if there’s insufficient evidence that you engaged in a robbery.
• Mistaken Identity: Since robberies occur quickly and under stressful conditions, victims and witnesses may wrongly identify the perpetrator. Defense lawyers can challenge the reliability of these identifications.
• Alibi: If you prove you were somewhere else during the robbery, you cannot be guilty. Establishing your alibi could involve evidence like surveillance footage, witness testimony, or bank records.
• Duress or Coercion: If you committed the robbery because you were threatened or forced to do so by someone else, this could serve as a defense.
• Intoxication: In some cases, it might be argued that you were so intoxicated that you were incapable of forming the intent to commit robbery. However, this defense has limited application and generally doesn’t excuse criminal behavior.
• Claim of Right: If you believed in good faith that you had a legal right to the property in question, this might serve as a defense. However, this typically doesn’t apply if force or threats were used.

Remember, the best defense strategy will depend on the details involved. An experienced robbery defense lawyer can evaluate the situation and help select the most effective defense.

Can Robbery Be Reduced or Dismissed?

Yes, with the help of a skilled defense attorney, it’s possible to have a robbery charge reduced or dismissed. This could be achieved through demonstrating insufficient evidence, proving mistaken identity, providing an alibi, or showing violations of the defendant’s rights during the investigation or arrest.

Charged with Robbery in Cincinnati? Call LHA

The Luftman, Heck & Associates defense team has had considerable experience defending individuals charged with robbery and related offenses in the Cincinnati area. Let us use our knowledge, skill, and insight to help.

You are probably worried and have a lot of questions. You can rest assured because attornies Brad Groene and Juliea Crumes of LHA are ready to fight for you. Contact LHA 24/7 for a free and confidential consultation. We’ll review what happened and what comes next. Call (513) 338-1890 or submit a request 24/7.