Robbery in California is defined by Penal Code section 211 as the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his immediate presence and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear. Fear is defined by Penal Code section 212 as fear of injury to the person robbed, to that person’s family or to anybody in that person’s company at the time of the robbery. Robbery is a serious crime in the Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County courts, and is considered a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law.

There are two different degrees of robbery – first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery. First-degree robbery includes robbery of a taxi driver, taxi passenger, anybody inside a residence or home, or anybody that was using an ATM. All other kinds of robbery are second-degree robbery. The punishment for robbery varies. Robbery of a person inside a home, when committed with another suspect, has a maximum punishment of nine years prison. All other first-degree robbery crimes have a maximum penalty of six years state prison. All second-degree robbery crimes have a maximum penalty of five years state prison.

Robbery of a car is known as carjacking and details of that crime can be found under our section on auto theft. An Estes robbery is a situation where a theft from a store gets upgraded to a robbery. Whenever a suspect steals from a store, and then fights with security during flight, the crimes is elevated from a theft or burglary to a robbery. This is especially dangerous because people who should be punished for mere theft can face a felony strike charge simply for pushing a guard out of the way.

Other Consequences

Not only can a robbery conviction lead to criminal penalties, but it can also have drastic employment, licensing and immigration consequences. Robbery crimes are considered crimes of moral turpitude, which are crimes that relate to a person’s honesty. Having a robbery conviction can prevent a person from finding a job or lead to a person being fired from their current job. Furthermore, many professions that require licensing from a state board, such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, lawyers, accountants, contractors, teachers, real estate agents and stock brokers, all require background checks. A professional who has a robbery conviction on their record risks losing their professional license, or never acquiring it in the first place. Perhaps the most severe impact of a robbery conviction involves immigration consequences. Non-citizens who are permanent residents, with a green card, or temporary visitors with a visa, can be denied admission or naturalization or even deported, with a robbery conviction on their record.

The Right Lawyer

Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer will be the most important decision someone can make when facing criminal robbery charges. Many people who face robbery charges are good people who got caught up in the wrong circumstances. There are also some people who have been wrongfully accused of robbery, based on a misunderstanding or false evidence. You need an attorney who will listen to your side of the story carefully, who will evaluate the evidence thoroughly, who will negotiate with the judge and the District Attorney’s office skillfully, and who will fight in trial aggressively. You need an attorney like Fred Thiagarajah.

You need an attorney who will listen to your side of the story carefully, who will evaluate the evidence thoroughly, who will negotiate with the judge and the District Attorney’s office skillfully, and who will fight in trial aggressively. You need an attorney like Fred Thiagarajah.

As a former Deputy District Attorney, Fred Thiagarajah has the negotiating skills and trial experience necessary to get the best results for his clients, for criminal cases and immigration consequences. Fred Thiagarajah has helped clients with theft charges in the past. For an example of his work, please see his case results and read his client testimonials. With offices in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Riverside, Fred Thiagarajah has criminal defense experience in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.