Being charged with a crime in Texas is something that needs to be taken seriously. There are many different types of crimes though and people face a number of different potential penalties based on the type of crime that is committed. Misdemeanor level offenses typically do not result in significant jail time or real serious penalties, but felonies can result in significant jail time and high fines. People charged with felonies may have greater concerns about what may occur as a result.
One type of crime that can result in significant penalties is when people take things that do not belong to them. When people do this they can face different charges depending on what occurred. If it is a shoplifting type offense they may be charged with a theft, but it can get much more serious when people use force to take things from other people. When this occurs people can be charged with robbery, which is a felony.
Differences between robbery and aggravated robbery
There are two types of robbery though. Basic robbery occurs if people take from another person and intentionally or recklessly harm the person in the process. People can also be charged with robbery if they threaten to cause bodily harm when taking the property from them. The other type of robbery is aggravated robbery. This could be charged if the person met the criteria for a robbery, but used a deadly weapon or committed the robbery against vulnerable adults or people over 65.
Potential penalties for different types of robberies
If people are convicted of robbery they could be put in jail anywhere from two to and 20 years and could be fined up to $10,000. If they are convicted of aggravated robbery the potential jail time increases to between five and 99 years and a fine up to $10,000.
When people are charged with either robbery or aggravated robbery, they face significant potential penalties. Being charged with robbery does not mean the person is guilty though and there may be defenses available to them. If successful people may be able to avoid the serious consequences of a conviction. Experienced attorneys understand the potential defenses and may be able to protect one’s rights.