Under Florida Statute § 812.13, Robbery refers to the act of taking money or property through theft from the custody of another person, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the person of the items, when force or the threat of force is used. The use of violence and threats is one of the main factors that differentiate a robbery crime from a theft crime in Florida. Robbery is a felony offense and is generally punished more severely than theft crimes by state prosecutors.

Penalties for Robbery

Florida Statute § 812.13 describes the penalties for robbery offenses in Florida. Robbery is a first degree felony offense if the offender carried a firearm or other deadly weapon in the commission of the offense and is punishable by up to 30 years in a Florida state prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

If the offender did not carry a firearm, deadly weapon, or other weapon, the robbery is considered a second degree felony and can be punished with up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.

Robbery by Sudden Snatching

Under Florida Statue § 812.131, “robbery by sudden snatching” occurs when a person takes money or property from the victim’s person, with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the victim of the item(s), when the victim was or became aware of the robbery during the offense.

The Prosecution must prove that the offender used force beyond what was necessary to take the items and the victim resisted or was injured.

Robbery by sudden snatching is a third degree felony offense if the offender did not carry a firearm or other deadly weapon and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or up to $5,000 in fines.

If the offender did carry a firearm or deadly weapon, he or she can be found guilty of a second degree felony offense and is punishable with a fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 15 years in a Florida state prison.

Home Invasion Robbery

Under Florida Statute § 812.135, a person who commits a robbery by entering a dwelling with the intent to commit a robbery and carries out said robbery is guilty of “home-invasion robbery.” If the person carried a firearm or weapon in the commission of the home invasion robbery, the person is guilty of a first degree felony offense and this is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

If the person does not carry a firearm, deadly weapon, or other weapon during the course of the home robbery, he or she can still be found guilty of a felony in the first degree.

Obtain Legal Assistance

If you or someone you know is accused of any of these types of crime, it is imperative that you work with an attorney who has experience in these cases. Charles G. White has represented hundreds of clients in State and Federal Courts throughout the United States. He has the experience and knowledge essential to obtain the best possible result. Charles G. White. He has over 34 years of experience with these types of cases and will defend you and your rights.