Riverside Robbery Defense Lawyer 

Defending Against Robbery Charges in Riverside

Under California Penal Code Section 211, robbery in the state involves the taking of the personal property of another person, either from their presence or their person, against their will, through fear, intimidation, or force. Certain aspects need to be proven by a prosecutor to convict a person of robbery. These include:

• You took property that did not belong to you.
• The property you took was taken from another person’s possession or immediate presence.
• You took the person’s property against his or her will.
• Force, threats, or intimidation were used to take the property. This could include physical violence inflicted on another person or making the victim fear injury to themselves, their family, or someone else at the scene of the robbery.
• When you took the property, you intended to take it permanently, or at least for a period that would deprive the owner of most of the property’s value.

The state of California divides robbery into first and second degrees, however, both are felony offenses. First-degree robbery charges must have one of the following elements:

• The victim of the robbery worked in the field of transportation for hire, such as a taxi cab driver, a bus driver, a streetcar driver, a subway driver, or a cable car driver.
• The robbery took place in an inhabited area, such as a home, a boat, a vehicle, or a trailer.
• The robbery occurred either while the victim was visiting an ATM or immediately after the victim visited an ATM.

Second-degree robbery has none of the requirements for first-degree robbery. California law states that counts of robbery are determined by the number of victims involved rather than the value of the items stolen or the number of items stolen. Certain additional factors can increase your sentence or fine, including:

• The person or persons you robbed suffered great bodily injury. If the injuries are severe, an extra three to six years could be added to your sentence.
• You used a gun in the commission of the burglary. Using a firearm while committing a felony in the state of California triggers the 10-20-life law, which is a sentence enhancement that applies to any felony where a firearm is used. The possession of a gun during a robbery could add an extra ten years to your sentence; if the gun was fired during the burglary, an extra 20 years could be added. If the firing of your gun resulted in death or great bodily harm to another person, you could face an additional 25 years to life.
• If you had at least two other people helping you commit the robbery in an inhabited building, your maximum sentence could be nine years.
• Under the Three Strikes Law, robbery is considered a violent felony, which means if you are convicted of a new felony after having a prior conviction of a serious felony, you will be sentenced to state prison for twice the term otherwise provided for the crime. If you have two or more prior strikes, you could face a state prison term of at least 25 years.

At Greenberg, Greenberg & Kenyon, our Riverside criminal defense lawyers handle a wide range of robbery defense cases, including first- and second-degree robbery and carjacking.  Our attorneys understand the consequences of a robbery conviction and know the successful defense strategies. We will do everything we can to help you achieve the best possible outcome.