Robbery Charges Missouri
In Missouri, robbery crimes are considered very serious crimes under the law and the penalties can be quite severe. Are you or a family member currently charged with a 1st-degree or 2nd-degree robbery? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Combs Law Group is one of the premier criminal defense lawyers in St. Louis. But you might be wondering – why hire a lawyer at all? Well, the truth is that you’re probably facing a felony conviction if you don’t fight your charges. A felony can have long-lasting effects on your life and the small investment you make today in a good lawyer will be well worth it in the years to come. Don’t let your charges ruin your life, contact us today at 314-451-2711 or fill out a contact form.
Robbery Crimes vs Burglary
Robbery under the Missouri statute Chapter 569 is defined as stealing something from someone by force, intimidation, or fear. The theft without the force is usually considered burglary, but with the element of fear or intimidation, you are in essence robbing someone. For instance, if you break into someone’s home and steal their TV while they’re home you’re likely going to face a burglary charge. However, if you break into their home and they happen to confront you and you tell them that you have a weapon, that’s considered a robbery.
First Degree Robbery Versus Second Degree Robbery
Under Missouri statutes, there are varying degrees of robbery where the amount of force dictates the degree that you are charged with at the time of your arrest. 1st-degree robbery is considered to have the most amount of force, while 2nd-degree robbery is less force. 1st-degree robbery is classified as a Class A felony, while 2nd-degree robbery is classified as a Class B felony. It’s important to know that 1st-degree robbery charges are when someone steals property in conjunction with one of the following conditions:
- Causes serious physical injury to any person; or
- Is armed with a deadly weapon; or
- Uses or threatens the immediate use of a dangerous instrument against any person; or
- Displays or threatens the use of what appears to be a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; or
- Steals any controlled substance from a pharmacy.
It’s also worth pointing out that the threat of force doesn’t have to be real for it to be considered serious. For instance, if you walk into a bank with a note that says “I have a suicide vest on, put all the money in this bag.” you could face 1st-degree charges even though you didn’t actually have a suicide vest on at the time. These types of cases are quite common because most people who are robbed always say they felt threatened at the time of the robbery. They don’t understate the amount of force when giving their statements, so the Prosecutors are usually inclined to file 1st-degree charges.
Dealing With Your Robbery Charges
Whatever your case may be, 1st-degree robbery and 2nd-degree robbery charges require the assistance of a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer. In St. Louis, you won’t find a better criminal defense attorney than Combs Law Group. We specialize in robbery cases, and we deliver successful outcomes for our clients. You don’t want to put your future in the hands of a public defender, or an attorney who is handling his first robbery case. If you decide to hire us, we’ll work aggressively to get the charges dismissed if the case permits. If it’s a 1st-degree charge you’re facing it’s possible we can refute the level of force required to get a conviction on 1st degree. If it’s a 2nd-degree robbery, it’s possible, we may be able to get the charges dropped to a burglary or theft. It will depend on the circumstances of your case, but one thing’s for sure we will pursue all avenues that provide you with a positive outcome to your case. If we have to work out a plea arrangement you’ll benefit from our strong relationships within the St. Louis legal community. If your case goes to trial, we’ll mount a strong defense that will persuade a jury of your peers to acquit. Whatever the path we take we everything we have into the fight. So take action right now and call us for a free case evaluation. You won’t regret it! If you are still on the fence we suggest you review our client feedback page to see what others are saying about working with Combs Law Group. Once you’re ready to fill out a form or call us at 314-451-2711.
