Robbery with a Firearm in Tampa, FL
Robbery with a firearm is one of the most serious violent felonies in Florida, and prosecutors pursue charges vigorously. The law is complex, and penalties can include substantial prison time, so it is essential if you have been charged that you obtain experienced legal representation before making any decisions regarding your case.
If you or a loved one are facing robbery with a firearm charges in the Tampa, FL, area, call Armando Edmiston, an experienced Tampa robbery with a firearm criminal defense lawyer, today.
Robbery with a Firearm: Definition and Penalties in Tampa, FL
Florida law defines robbery as the intentional and unlawful taking of property or money from another person by force, violence, assault or fear. The simplest form of robbery, known as strong-arm robbery, is committed without a weapon. This is a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. By itself, strong-arm robbery does not come with a mandatory minimum sentence, but more serious forms of robbery, including armed robbery, do. Armed robbery is a first-degree felony. If the weapon used in the robbery is non-deadly, armed robbery carries a maximum penalty of 30 years and a mandatory minimum sentence of almost three years. Armed robbery with a deadly weapon, on the other hand, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Where the deadly weapon is not a firearm, the minimum sentence is four years. Where the weapon is a firearm, a special Florida gun statute imposes enhanced mandatory sentences. Armed robbery using a firearm carries an automatic minimum sentence of 10 years. If the firearm discharges, the automatic minimum is 20 years. If the firearm discharges and kills or seriously injures someone, the mandatory sentence is 25 years to life.
Robbery with a Firearm: Other Kinds of Armed Robbery in Tampa, FL
There are a few special types of robbery, and the use of a firearm during any of these offenses can bring about similarly enhanced penalties. Robbery by sudden snatching, also known as purse snatching or pick-pocketing, is a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years if the offender carries a deadly weapon. If the deadly weapon is a firearm, the Florida gun statute imposes the same mandatory sentences that are imposed for basic armed robbery with a firearm: 10 years for using a firearm, 20 years for using a firearm that discharges, and 25 years to life for using a firearm that discharges and kills or seriously injures someone. Home-invasion robbery with a deadly weapon, meanwhile, is a first-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. If the deadly weapon is a firearm, the same 10-year minimum applies. If the firearm goes off, the minimum is 20 years. If it goes off and kills or seriously injures someone, the sentence is 25 years to life. Carjacking, finally, is a first-degree felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison when committed with a deadly weapon. When the weapon is a firearm, a 10-year minimum is imposed. If it discharges, a 20-year minimum is imposed. If it discharges and seriously injures or kills someone, a sentence of 25 years to life is imposed.