Exploring Different Types of Robbery Charges

Under Maryland criminal law, robbery can refer to several different types of crime with different degrees of severity. The type of robbery you are charged with will have a significant impact on both how your robbery lawyer serving Charles County approaches your defense and the potential penalties you face.

Robbery Through Force or Threat

There are two factors that separate robbery from theft. With a robbery, the victim of the crime is present at the time, and there is some kind of force or threat involved. If you are charged with robbery, you are being accused of taking something directly from a person by either forcing them to give it to you or threatening them with violence. This type of robbery may include physical assault but does include the use of any kind of weapon. Under Maryland law, this kind of robbery carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Assault charges may be added, depending on the nature of the crime, which your lawyer may attempt to get dismissed. Note that, in Maryland, attempted robbery is punished in the same way.

Armed Robbery

Armed robbery occurs under the same circumstances as robbery through force or threat, but the use of a weapon is involved. The weapon may be a gun, knife, or anything that could be used to cause injury or death. You can also be charged with armed robbery if you claim to have a weapon during a robbery, even if you don’t actually have one. There is a minimum sentence of five years for armed robbery with no possibility of parole, and a maximum sentence of 20 years, plus potential additional charges if a handgun was used. Your attorney-at-law may attempt to have this charge reduced to simple robbery.

Carjacking

Carjacking is a specific type of robbery that involves taking control of a motor vehicle from the driver using intimidation or force. Maryland punishes carjacking crimes severely, with maximum sentences of 30 years. Your robbery lawyer may push to have carjacking charges reduced and to get additional charges, like assault, dismissed before trial.