Columbus Robbery Attorney

If you have recently been charged with robbery in the state of Ohio, it is natural to be concerned about whether or not your arrest will lead to your imprisonment. You may even be worried about the harm that a criminal conviction will cause to your family or your career.

Before you begin to panic, however, it is important to remember that your arrest is just the start of the legal battle. With the help of an experienced Columbus robbery attorney from James D. Owen, LLC, you may be able to prevent your charge from becoming a conviction.

How Our Skilled Defense Attorneys Can Help You Fight Back Against Your Robbery Charges

The legal team here at James D. Owen, LLC, believes that everyone who is accused of a crime in the state of Ohio should receive a vociferous legal defense. So, when you ask us to assist you with your robbery case, we will:

Guide You Through the Criminal Justice Process

The criminal justice system in Ohio was not designed to be user friendly. As such, if you have never been through it before, it can be easy to feel lost, confused, and frustrated as you attempt to fight back against the accusations of the state.

Fortunately, when you hire James D. Owen, LLC, you won’t need to figure out how the system works on your own. Our team of skilled Columbus criminal lawyers will be on-hand to provide you with general information about the process and answer any questions you may have along the way.

Search for Exculpatory Evidence on Your Behalf

Sometimes, the best way to get Ohio robbery charges dropped is to prove that you could not possibly have committed the crime. You can often accomplish this feat by gathering evidence that proves you were in a different location or with another person at the time the offense occurred.

Having worked on countless criminal cases over the years, the legal team here at James D. Owen, LLC, knows exactly where to look and who to speak with to locate exculpatory evidence. When you hire us, we will be more than happy to assist you with your search.

Negotiate a Plea Bargain Deal with the Prosecutor

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest and alleged robbery offense, the prosecutor may not want to take your case to trial. Instead, they may prefer to resolve the matter by offering you a plea bargain deal.

If you are interested in considering such an agreement, our lawyers will be available to help you negotiate its terms. We have hammered out numerous plea bargain deals with local prosecutors over the years, so you can be certain that you will be well represented throughout the negotiating process.

Would you like to have one of our skilled attorneys provide you with the legal advice and guidance you need to fight back against your robbery charges? If so, please give us a call and arrange a free case review at our law offices in Columbus, OH, today.

Understanding Ohio’s Robbery Laws

“Robbery” can be broadly defined as the act of taking property from another party by force or the threat of force. The Ohio Revised Code contains two main statutes that outlaw this practice. They are:

Robbery

Section 2911.02 of the Ohio Revised Code explains that no person, in committing or attempting to commit a theft offense shall:

• Have a deadly weapon on their person or under their control
• Inflict, threaten to inflict, or attempt to inflict physical harm to another individual
• Use or threaten the use of force against another individual

It is also unlawful to commit these acts while fleeing from a theft offense.

Anyone who violates this statute may be arrested and charged with robbery. In the state of Ohio, this criminal offense is generally classified as a felony of the second or third degree.

Aggravated Robbery

Section 2911.01 of the Ohio Revised Code explains that no person, in committing, attempting to commit, or fleeing from a theft offense, shall:

• Have a deadly weapon on their person or under their control and display it, brandish it, use it, or indicate that they possess it
• Have a dangerous ordnance on their person or under their control
• Inflict or attempt to inflict serious physical harm to another individual

That same statute also states that no unauthorized person shall knowingly remove or attempt to remove a deadly weapon from a law enforcement officer when the following conditions apply:

• The officer is acting within the course and scope of their duties, and
• The offender knows or has reasonable cause to know that the officer is a law enforcement professional

People who violate this statute can be taken into police custody and charged with aggravated robbery. In Ohio, aggravated robbery is punishable as a felony of the first degree.

Do you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you fight back against your robbery or aggravated robbery charge? If so, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team here at James D. Owen, LLC. We are always ready, willing, and able to assist our friends and neighbors here in Columbus.

Consequences of Robbery Convictions in Ohio

When the state of Ohio convicts someone of a robbery offense, that person typically faces two types of consequences – criminal and collateral:

Criminal Consequences for Ohio Robbery Convictions

People who are found guilty of robbery in the state of Ohio are generally punished in accordance with the following sentencing guidelines:

First-Degree Felonies

In Ohio, aggravated robbery is almost always classified as a felony of the first degree. As such, anyone who is convicted of this offense can be sentenced to anywhere from 3 to 11 years in prison. They may also be fined up to $20,000.

Second-Degree Felonies

Robbery is often punishable as a felony of the second degree. As such, individuals who are found guilty of committing this offense can be sent to state prison for between 2 and 8 years. They may also face fines as high as $15,000.

Third-Degree Felonies

Under certain circumstances, robbery can be classified as a felony of the third degree. In Ohio, felonies of this nature are punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Collateral Consequences of Ohio Robbery Convictions

When Ohio residents are convicted of robbery and theft crimes, they don’t just receive a fine and a prison sentence. They are also given a permanent criminal record. As a result of this record, they frequently endure a number of collateral consequences, such as:

• Difficulty Finding Housing: Landlords and apartment communities often reject applications from convicted felons.
• Difficulty Finding a Job: Many Ohio companies have strict policies against hiring people with criminal records.
• Loss of Professional Licenses: Professional organizations typically require their members to have clean criminal records.
• Difficulty Obtaining Student Loans: The federal government does not issue student loans to convicted felons.
• Immigration Issues: Once felons have served their prison sentence, the government frequently deports them.
• Loss of Gun Ownership Rights: Convicted felons do not have the right to purchase, own, or use firearms in the state of Ohio.

Would you like to have a robbery crimes lawyer from our law firm help you fight to try to avoid these negative consequences? Then please reach out to us and set up a free initial consultation at our Columbus headquarters as soon as possible.

Defenses Against Ohio Robbery Charges

When Ohioans face robbery or theft charges, they often believe that it is just a matter of time before they are convicted and punished. In reality, however, this is rarely the case. With the aid of an effective defense strategy, they can often get their charges reduced or even dismissed.

A short sampling of some of the most commonly used defenses to robbery crimes would include:

Lack of Evidence

To convict someone of robbery, the state of Ohio must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed the offense in question. If a lawyer can successfully argue that the prosecutor has not presented enough evidence to prove their case, they may be able to land their client a not guilty verdict in court.

Duress

If a defense attorney can prove that their client only committed the robbery because their life was threatened, they may be able to get the charge thrown out. Proving that a defendant acted under duress typically requires presenting the court with audio, visual, or written evidence of a threat.

Mistaken Identity

Robberies often happen at night, when law enforcement officers and witnesses can have trouble accurately identifying the perpetrators. If an attorney can present irrefutable proof that their client was the victim of mistaken identity, they can generally get their case thrown out.

Do you need an experienced attorney to help you devise an effective defense strategy for your case? If so, please pick up the phone and reach out to the James D. Owen, LLC, legal team in Columbus, Ohio, today.

Your Knowledgeable Columbus Robbery Attorney

Over the years, the skilled legal team here at James D. Owen, LLC, has helped countless Columbus residents fight back against their robbery charges. If you are in legal trouble and need us to do the same for you, all you have to do is give us a call or contact us online. We’ll be ready to go as soon as you are.