If you’ve been charged with robbery in Santa Ana, CA, it’s important to take immediate steps to protect your rights. Robbery is a felony crime in California. A conviction for robbery can result in more than just jail time and hefty fines. Having a robbery conviction on your permanent public record could make it difficult for you to get a job, a loan, or housing.
You need to contact Santa Ana criminal defense attorney Jim Tanizaki as soon as possible after your arrest. Being charged with a crime isn’t the same as being convicted. An effective defense strategy often results in reduced charges, fines, or jail time for the defendant; you may even be able to get the charges against you dropped.
Robbery Charges in California
The California state legislature defines robbery as “the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear.” Depending on the circumstances, robbery is punishable as either a first or second-degree felony.
A conviction for Robbery in the First Degree in California could get you up to nine years in prison, fines of up to $10,000, or both. A conviction for Robbery of the Second Degree could get you up to five years in prison, fines of up to $10,000, or both. The sentences can also be enhanced. For instance, you could receive an additional six years if the robbery involved a firearm or resulted in great bodily injury to the victim(s). Robbery is also punishable under the state’s “three-strikes” laws; if you’ve already been found guilty of two serious felonies and are convicted on robbery charges, you could get find yourself sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison.
Defense Strategies for Robbery Charges in Santa Ana CA
Remember, that in order to be convicted of robbery, the jury has to find you guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. You only have to plant doubt in one juror’s mind in order to avoid conviction. There are several defense strategies that can accomplish just that.
Your defense attorney will start by examining both the evidence against you and the circumstances surrounding your arrest. If law enforcement acted improperly, say by violating your civil rights, the charges against you may be dropped.
Some of the strategies defense attorneys use to avoid a guilty verdict for their clients include:
- You were falsely accused of the crime
- You thought you had a right to take the property
- The property you’re accused of taking actually belongs to you
- You didn’t use fear or force to take the property
- You’re the victim of mistaken identity
Santa Ana Criminal Defense Attorney Jim Tanizaki is Here to Protect Your Rights
Santa Ana criminal defense attorney Jim Tanizaki is committed to protecting the rights of clients charged with robbery and other felony and misdemeanor crimes. As a former Orange County prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney, Mike’s unique background and experience give him an edge other lawyers can’t match. His vast legal knowledge and expertise have resulted in reduced or even dismissed charges for clients accused of felony or misdemeanor crimes in Santa Ana, Orange, Fountain Valley, Tustin, Irvine, and other Orange County communities.
Contact the law offices of Jim Tanizaki through our website, or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule a free, initial consultation with a leading Santa Ana criminal defense lawyer.