If you’ve been charged with robbery, it is important to stay calm and get legal help from a professional who understands the criminal system. Being charged with this offense can instill fear and uncertainty, but you have options, and being charged with a crime does not mean you will be convicted. At the Sheed Law Offices, PLLC, we do not judge our clients—we focus on protecting their rights and building a solid defense based on the facts.
You may not fully understand why you were charged or what the next steps look like. An experienced theft attorney could make a real difference in how your case is resolved. Reach out to a Seattle robbery lawyer from our team for help making a plan.
Under Washington law, a robbery involves taking property from another person by using force or threatening to do so. The law treats robbery differently from theft or burglary because it involves an element of fear or intimidation. First-degree robbery involves using a gun or other deadly weapon or causing injury, while second-degree robbery covers situations without weapons or injury. Both types of robberies are felonies with the possibility of prison time.
Many people accused of robbery never intended to threaten or harm anyone. A robbery defense lawyer in Seattle could help you understand exactly what the state must prove. Your defense begins with understanding the difference between theft, assault, and robbery—and showing where the state’s version of events may be overstated.
In Washington, robbery charges carry some of the toughest penalties in the criminal code. Because robbery is treated as a violent offense, prosecutors often push for lengthy sentences and limited plea options. Possible consequences of a robbery conviction include:
The severity depends on the circumstances—whether a weapon was allegedly used, whether anyone was injured, and the person’s prior record. A Seattle robbery attorney could review the specific facts of your case and help you understand what penalties the prosecution might pursue.
In every robbery case, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that force or the threat of force was used to take property. Your defense attorney’s job is to question that claim and highlight evidence that suggests otherwise.
A skilled Seattle lawyer from the Sheed Law Offices, LLC, could challenge the evidence and try to poke holes in the prosecution’s robbery case, including dissecting any surveillance footage, challenging unreliable eyewitness accounts, or showing that the encounter lacked intent to threaten or harm. By exposing weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence, your lawyer may be able to have charges reduced or even dismissed.
A robbery charge does not define you. With the right legal guidance, you can face this challenge and fight for your future. A Seattle robbery lawyer could help you understand the law, the potential defenses available, and the steps to protect your freedom. Contact Sheed Law Offices, PLLC, today to speak with an attorney who will listen, advise you honestly, and work tirelessly on your behalf.
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