Armed Robbery

Armed Robbery is one of the rare crimes in Michigan that are punishable up to life in prison. It goes without saying that if you are accused or charged with armed robbery, your life is on the line. There are several requisite elements to satisfy an armed robbery charge, and it requires an experienced attorney to understand the elements, identify the prosecution’s weaknesses, and build a winning defense strategy. If you have been accused or charged with armed robbery, contact me today to preserve your rights and fight the charges brought against you.

Offense

Under Michigan law, a prosecutor must prove four elements beyond a reasonable doubt to secure an armed robbery conviction:

Force, Violence or Threat Against a Victim

First, the defendant used force or violence or the threat of force or violence against a victim. A threat that causes the victim to fear is enough to satisfy this element.

“In the Course” of Committing Larceny (Theft)

Second, the defendant was in the course of committing a larceny. A “larceny” is the taking of someone else’s property with intent to steal. The phrase “in the course” is used broadly under Michigan law, and usually includes before, during and after the actual larceny or theft.

Victim Present During Larceny

Third, the victim was present while the defendant was in the course of committing the larceny. This logically ties in with the first element, which requires force, violence or threat against a victim.

In Possession of a Weapon

Fourth, the defendant did one of the following in the course of committing the larceny:

  • Possessed a dangerous weapon
  • Possessed any other object used to lead the victim to reasonably believe that it was a dangerous weapon
  • Represented orally or otherwise that he or she was in possession of a weapon

MPC 750.529

While there are several elements that a prosecutor must prove for armed robbery, the language in the statute allows for considerable discretion. Not every armed robbery will include robbing a bank with a clown mask or stealing an old lady’s purse with a knife. The simple act of brandishing a weapon while demanding money may be enough for an armed robbery charge. Given the expansive statutory language, it is critical you hire an experienced attorney like me who can navigate through the legal intricacies to help you fight the charges.

Penalties

Armed robbery is a capital offense, meaning it is punishable up to life in prison. Given what is at stake, it is critical to hire an experienced attorney who can help you build a winning defense strategy and obtain the best possible outcome.

ZAYID LAW’S Defenses to Armed Robbery

I understand the potential consequences that come with armed robbery charges and do not sleep until my clients rights are fully preserved and we build the best possible strategy to defend the case. Robbery charges, like most theft charges, are tricky because there is a lot of room for discretion. That being said, I have experience using this “gray area” to mitigate a defendant’s culpability. ZAYID LAW utilizes a multi-faceted approach to attacking the prosecution’s case and poking holes in the investigation. Some of the common defenses I deploy include:

  • Challenging the ownership to the property. Many times, there is a genuine dispute over the ownership, which may lead to accusations of robbery.
  • Understandably, victims of robbery are under distress and do not accurately depict the perpetrator.
  • Objecting to evidence illegally obtained, be it through a warrantless search, invalid search warrant, or improper confession

This is not an exhaustive list of defenses, and the only way to fully understand the tools at your disposal is by calling me and ZAYID LAW today. The sooner you call me, the sooner we can build your winning defense strategy and achieve the best possible outcome of your robbery case.