Maryland Robbery Penalties 

In Maryland, a robbery is taking and carrying away the property of another person, but it is done with either force or threat of force. It is a theft that is accomplished by force or threat of force. A qualified Maryland robbery lawyer can clear up any other questions you may have regarding the definition of robbery or otherwise.

Consequences of Robbery in Maryland

Robbery is a felony, and the maximum penalty is 15 years. It is a violent crime which means that if a person receives a sentence, they are going to serve 50% of it before they are going to be eligible for parole. Most judges sentence harshly on violent crimes. If they are sentenced – assuming the defendant has been convicted by a jury –  robbery is going to see a significant sentence. If the case involves the use of a weapon, then it becomes even more serious and the maximum penalty for Maryland robbery is increased.

Prosecutor Proof

The prosecution has to prove that the defendant, without the permission of the other party, took and carried away their property and they did so by force or by the threat of force. These elements must be present for Maryland robbery penalties to accrue.

Harshest Penalties

If a person was sentenced to the maximum Maryland robbery penalty, then they will see a 15-year sentence. If they have any prior record, that would impact their parole options. It is important for a person to understand that they would not be charged with just a robbery. They would be charged with every other underlying offense. They would also be charged with theft. If there was a weapon involved, they would be charged with that as well. If there was a firearm used, they would be charged with that. If they are convicted of multiple offenses, then their sentences can run consecutive to each other, so they would be serving one sentence and then another sentence after that, et cetera.

Taking a Plea Deal

An attorney will suggest taking a plea deal only when it is in the defendant’s best interest. Sometimes, it is in the individual’s best interest to take a plea. It may be because the state has a lot of evidence against the defendant and what an attorney tries to minimize their Maryland robbery penalties. An attorney assesses whethor or not the plea offer is better then what the possible outcome might be at trial. Then, it may be worthwhile to consider the plea.

Information Available to Attorney

A Maryland robbery attorney needs certain information from the individual. If an individual has any of their paperwork, then that would be good for the attorney, but even if they do not have documents, they still should call an attorney because they can talk and work through the chronology of what happened and what the issue might be. An attorney can then give the person some advice about what the next step should be and how to mitigate or avoid Maryland robbery penalties. Consult with a professional attorney today to see what you can do.