Law Enforcement Arrest Man In Stranger’s Apartment

At the beginning of April, Denton law enforcement arrested a man who barricaded himself inside the bathroom of a stranger’s apartment. The man was wanted for multiple robberies. The arrest warrant affidavit revealed that the man poked a Subway restaurant clerk with a tire tool wrapped in a rag. Before law enforcement arrived at the scene, the man broke into the door of the apartment, which caused one of the apartment’s residents to call 911. In the state of Texas, robbery related offenses are particularly serious crimes that can result in strict penalties. For individuals charged with these offenses, it is frequently a wise idea to retain the assistance of a skilled criminal defense attorney.

The Types of Robbery

Robbery involves theft with the use of physical force or fear. Although robbery is considered a crime of violence, a victim does not have to experience actual physical injury for the suspect to be charged with robbery. A significant difference between robbery and burglary is that robbery does not require unlawfully entering a building. The state of Texas classifies robberies in several different ways. These robbery classifications include the following:

  • Carjacking: Carjacking is considered a felony. The penalties faced by an individual depends on whether the person was armed or not.
  • Misdemeanor Theft: This category includes the theft of less than $1,000 in property.
  • Felony Theft: When stolen property is greater than $1,000, an individual can be found guilty of felony theft. The severity of the penalties faced by an individual increase based on the amount of property that was stolen.
  • Second Degree Robbery: These crimes occur during a robbery when someone causes bodily harm to victims either intentionally or recklessly. Individuals convicted of second-degree robbery can face up to 20 years in prison.
  • Third Degree Robbery: Second degree robbery can be elevated to third-degree robbery when bodily harm or injury occurred to the robbery victim, a deadly weapon was used or exhibited, and the individual threatened to harm or placed fear of death to a person who was either 65, older, or disabled.
  • Aggravated Robbery: In cases where robbery involves the use of a deadly weapon, individuals can be found guilty of a serious felony in the third degree. A deadly weapon can involve a gun or knife. This law was once known as “armed robbery.”

Defenses to a Charge of Robbery

A skilled defense attorney is often able to raise strong defenses in response to a charge of robbery. Some of the potential defenses that can be raised in response to a robbery charge include:

  • Accidental removal of the property.
  • Impaired judgment.
  • Lack of evidence.
  • Mistaken identity.
  • Ownership of the property that was taken.

Contact a Knowledgeable Denton Criminal Defense Attorney

No matter what type of robbery charge an individual faces, there is the potential for severe consequences if convicted. These consequences can result in lifelong obstacles for a person. As a result, for individuals who are faced with these offenses, it is frequently a wise idea to obtain the services of strong legal representation. Contact Wheeler Law Office today.

(image courtesy of Mason Jones)