The Crime

Robbery is a felony offense that can seriously damage your record and your reputation. In Tennessee, a person may be convicted of the crime of Robbery if the state prosecutor proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the person intentionally or knowingly:

1. Stole property from another;
2. By violence or putting the person in fear.

The crime of Robbery is elevated to the more serious offense of Aggravated Robbery if, during the robbery:

1. The person used a deadly weapon or displayed any item that led the victim to reasonably believe it was a deadly weapon; OR
2. The victim suffered serious bodily injury.

Robbery may be further elevated to the crime of Especially Aggravated Robbery if, during the robbery:

1. The person used a deadly weapon; AND
2. The victim suffered serious bodily injury.

If you have been charged with the crime of Robbery, you should seek help from the Knoxville criminal defense attorneys at the Oberman & Rice Law Firm.

[Source: Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 39-13-401, 39-13-402, 39-13-403]

The Penalties

Under Tennessee law, the crime of Robbery is a Class C Felony and may result in some or all of the following consequences:

1. A sentence of 3 to 15 years in prison;
2. A probationary period;
3. A fine of up to $10,000;
4. Court costs.

The crime of Aggravated Robbery is a Class B Felony and may result in some or all of the following consequences:

1. A sentence of 8 to 30 years in prison;
2. A probationary period;
3. A fine of up to $25,000;
4. Court costs.

The crime of Especially Aggravated Robbery is a Class A Felony and may result in some or all of the following consequences:

1. A sentence of 15 to 60 years in prison;
2. A probationary period;
3. A fine of up to $50,000;
4. Court costs.

[Source: Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 39-13-401, 39-13-402, 39-13-403]

Other Consequences of a Robbery Conviction

In addition to the court-mandated penalties described above, a person convicted of Robbery may also experience serious collateral (other) consequences. A Tennessee Robbery conviction may result in the loss of college scholarships or the ability to seek admission to a higher learning institution. A conviction may also impact one’s ability to maintain or seek employment and may result in negative action to a professional license (e.g. nursing).

Furthermore, a conviction for Robbery will ALWAYS stay on a person’s criminal history, and current and future employers may access records of prior convictions. This means that under current Tennessee criminal law and expungement law you may not erase or expunge a Robbery conviction from public record. Accordingly, current and future employers may access records of Tennessee criminal convictions. For more information about Tennessee expungement law, you may wish to review the information contained on our sister website, http://www.eraseyourrecord.com/index.html.

Why Hire An Attorney Immediately?

It is important to act quickly in order to gather and preserve favorable evidence. Key evidence (faces, dates, events, and conversations) fades from memory over time. Certain witnesses need to be interviewed as soon as possible. Also, video recordings and other evidence may be destroyed. Therefore, it is critical to begin an investigation as soon as possible to ensure valuable evidence is not lost. Success or failure in any criminal case may be determined in the decisions of the defendant and his or her Tennessee Criminal Attorney in only a few hours or days after an arrest is made.

Contact Us Today

If you or someone you know has recently been charged, contact the Oberman & Rice Law Firm today so that we can begin preparing a defense for your case. Submit your information for a free case evaluation from our Knoxville drug attorneys or call our office at 865-249-7200.