Terre Haute Theft and Robbery Lawyer
Theft and robbery are not the same thing. Each offense has its own elements which must be proven before a person can be convicted of a crime. Below we look at each offense in detail and let you know how we can help. If you have been arrested for a theft or robbery offense in Terre Haute, call the Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm at 812-232-7400 for a free consultation and immediate assistance.
Theft
Elements
Theft is the crime of “knowingly or intentionally exerting unauthorized control over property of another person, with intent to deprive the other person of any part of its value or use.”
In other words, theft occurs when you unlawfully take property that belongs to another person with the intent to deprive them of it.
What are the Penalties for Theft in Indiana?
The penalties for a theft offense depend on the value of the property involved in the crime.
- When property is less than $750, the theft offense is classified as a Class A Misdemeanor (zero days to one year in jail).
- When property is valued between $750 and $49,999, the theft offense is classified as a Level 6 Felony (six months to 2 ½ years in prison).
Robbery
Robbery is not the same as Theft. Robbery is defined as using force or the threat of force, or putting the other person in fear, while intentionally taking someone else’s property from that person or their presence.
The offense is a Level 5 Felony (one year to six-year sentence). The offense is escalated to a Level 3 Felony (three-year to 16-year sentence) if it is committed while armed with a deadly weapon or results in bodily injury. It is a Level 2 Felony (ten-year to 30-year sentence) if the crime results in serious bodily injury to the victim.
You Have Options When Charged with Theft or Robbery in Vigo County
Getting charged with theft or robbery can be frightening. The State of Indiana’s criminal process is complicated and requires an experienced criminal lawyer to navigate. The State will routinely attempt to get you to plead guilty without the advice of a lawyer.
The police will pressure you to give a statement. They will try to intimidate you into saying something that will be detrimental to a successful resolution to your case. You are not required to talk to the State or the police. The only statement that you should make is that you want to hire a lawyer, and all communication will go through your lawyer.
Rowdy will conduct all of the negotiations with the prosecutor. We will analyze the case and prepare your case to win at trial. We will also scrutinize any plea agreement and advise you if it is in your best interest to resolve your case by agreement. We will stand with you throughout the case and make sure you have all of the important information as we make the important decisions regarding your case. Our primary objective is to get you the best result possible. We aggressively represent you and fight for you every step of the way. We’ll carefully and meticulously analyze your case and develop a case strategy for trial.
Some possible defenses may include the following:
- You did not act knowingly or intentionally
- You lacked the intent to deprive the owner of their property
- You took the property by mistake
- You are the owner of the property
- You’ve been mistakenly identified or falsely accused of the crime
Help is Available With Robbery or Theft Defense in Terre Haute
The prosecutor will prepare their case from the moment that you are arrested. Your future is at stake. It is important that you retain a lawyer immediately as there are time-sensitive deadlines that must be adhered to. Please call us today to see if we can help you through this difficult time. We will aggressively represent you and be your fierce advocate. Call the Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm in Terre Haute for help with a theft or robbery arrest in Vigo County or the Wabash Valley.
