Under New Jersey state law, armed robbery is committing a theft using force or the threat of force while being armed with a deadly weapon. Being convicted of armed robbery can be detrimental because of its required prison time and criminal record. With the help of a good defense strategy and a Bergen County, New Jersey theft lawyer, you may be able to have your armed robbery charges dismissed or lessened.
Is Armed Robbery a Felony in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the word “felony” is not commonly used. The equivalent of a felony is an indictable crime. Armed robbery is a serious crime because of its use of both theft and violence and is considered an indictable crime. Standard penalties for armed robbery in NJ include:
- Up to $200,000 in fines
- Prison sentence of 10 to 20 years
You will be required to serve at least 85% of your sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The severity of these penalties is the reason why you need to find the best defense option for your situation.
What Are the Best Defense Options for Armed Robbery?
There are generally four defense options that a lawyer might use to convince a court that you are not guilty, or that your charges should be less severe. Depending on the individual circumstances of your case you may find more or less defense options that work for you. For each of the following, you will need to present solid and tangible proof including photo evidence, eyewitness testimony, text messages or calls, etc.
- Innocence
- The prosecution will have to prove to a court beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime of armed robbery. If you did not commit the crime you may be able to provide an alibi and witnesses, shedding doubt on the prosecution’s case.
- Entrapment
- If you can prove that you would not have committed the crime but a law enforcement officer or government official pushed you to do it, you might have a defense of entrapment.
- Duress
- If a person coerced you to commit the crime by threatening bodily harm and you had no reasonable opportunity to avoid committing the crime, a court may be more lenient.
- Intoxication
- If you were intoxicated a court may find you less liable than if you committed the crime while sober. This is especially true if you were involuntarily intoxicated, like if someone drugged you and convinced you to commit the robbery.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
If you are facing criminal charges related to armed robbery in New Jersey you must find an experienced attorney to defend you. While several defense options may apply to you, a lawyer will be able to effectively build a case and present the evidence on your behalf. They will have handled cases similar to yours and know how to present evidence in a compelling manner to convince a court to dismiss or lessen your charges.
