Unlike many other criminal offenses involving or related to theft, which can be classified as misdemeanors under certain circumstances, robbery is always a felony charge in Connecticut. The consequences of a conviction can be severe and life-changing.

Handling allegations proactively and effectively could be much easier with support from a Shelton robbery lawyer. From initial investigations to the conclusion of your case in or out of court, Ruane Attorneys works to ensure your rights are respected. Our legal team is prepared to pursue a resolution that protects your best interests.

Defining Robbery Under State Law

According to Connecticut General Statutes §53a-133, there are two ways a person can commit the criminal offense of robbery. Both involve threatening to use immediate, physical force against someone while committing larceny as defined under C.G.S. §53a-119. Specifically, robbery involves threatening imminent physical harm to someone else to discourage them from resisting while the perpetrator takes their property or to encourage or compel them to give their property to the perpetrator or otherwise assist with the act of larceny.

The basic version of this offense—robbery in the third degree—is a class D felony under C.G.S. §53a-136. Someone convicted of this offense in court might face maximum sanctions of five years in prison and/or $5,000 in fines. As a Shelton attorney could explain, the presence of various aggravating factors can substantially increase the severity of the robbery offense.

Degrees of Robbery Charges in Shelton

There are two additional degrees for robbery offenses, both allowing for harsher penalties upon conviction.

Second-Degree Robbery

Under C.G.S. §53a-135, a person commits second-degree robbery if they commit third-degree robbery with help from someone else actually present for the offense or if they display or threaten to use a deadly weapon while committing the offense or fleeing from the immediate area afterward. It is also considered second-degree robbery if someone threatens or intimidates any employee of a bank, state credit union, or federal credit union while committing an act of larceny inside. Second-degree robbery is a class C felony.

First-Degree Robbery

First-degree robbery, as per C.G.S. §53a-134, occurs when the defendant or any other participant in an act of robbery does any of the following while the robbery is ongoing or while fleeing the scene:

• Causes serious physical injury to any person not participating in the crime
• Is armed with any deadly weapon
• Uses or threatens to use any dangerous instruments
• Brandishes or threatens to use any firearm capable of discharging a shot

First-degree robbery is a class B felony with a mandatory five-year minimum prison term that cannot be revoked or suspended under any circumstances. As a lawyer at our firm could explain, anyone who commits robbery by knowingly taking a motor vehicle directly from someone occupying it may have a mandatory three-year prison term added to any other sanctions imposed upon them.

Seek Help from a Shelton Robbery Attorney

Robbery is always treated as a felony in Connecticut, and a conviction could lead to time behind bars and mandatory minimum sentences. However, there are many steps defendants can take to mitigate the penalties they might face.

Your first priority should be to contact a Shelton robbery lawyer to discuss your situation. A conversation with legal counsel could be vital to achieving a positive resolution to your case. Schedule a meeting by calling Ruane Attorneys today.