Help from a Fort Pierce Armed Robbery Lawyer

In Florida, armed robbery is treated as a serious crime. People who are convicted of armed robbery can face lengthy prison sentences. When someone is convicted of multiple counts of armed robbery, they might face decades in prison. Recently, a man was arrested for allegedly committing multiple armed robberies in Fort Pierce. Here is some information about the case and the charges the man is facing from Fort Pierce criminal lawyer Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq.

Man Charged for Five Armed Robberies

Officers from the Fort Pierce Police Department reported they have arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of committing five armed robberies in Fort Pierce. The police reportedly pulled the man over for a traffic stop and learned that he was on probation and out past his curfew. According to the officers, the police discovered that the man was allegedly connected to several armed robberies of convenience stores in Fort Pierce. The officers reported that several store surveillance videos depicted the man demanding that store clerks give him money from their cash registers and then fleeing the scene with the cash.

The police stated that the man confessed to committing five robberies between May and July 1. He was charged with five counts of armed robbery and a probation violation and was taken into custody. The man is currently in custody in the St. Lucie County Jail without a bond.

Armed Robbery in Florida

Under § 812.13, Fla. Stat. (2021), armed robbery can be charged when someone takes property from someone else with the intent to permanently deprive the victim of the property while using force, threats, assault, or intimidation and while using a firearm or deadly weapon. Armed robbery is a first-degree felony carrying the potential for up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $10,000. In the man’s case, he was charged with five counts of armed robbery, which means he could face up to 150 years in prison if he is convicted of all five counts, and the sentences are assessed to run consecutively. While armed robbery is a serious crime, it is still possible to defend against it.

Defenses to Armed Robbery Charges

The defenses that might be available to an armed robbery charge will depend on the facts and circumstances of the offense. In the Fort Pierce armed robbery charges that the man is facing, a Fort Pierce criminal lawyer at Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq. & Associates might begin by analyzing the reason for the traffic stop. Police must have a reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a traffic violation or another crime before they can pull over their vehicles. In the man’s case, he was not charged with a traffic violation. If the defense lawyer discovers the police did not have a reasonable suspicion to stop his vehicle, the attorney could file a motion to suppress the stop. If successful, a motion to suppress the stop would result in all of the evidence the police gathered as a result of the illegal stop being suppressed, which would include all of the evidence the police gathered linking the man to the robberies.

Another potential defense might include looking at the man’s confession. If the police interrogated him without properly Mirandizing him first or coerced him into confessing by placing him under duress, it might be possible to get the man’s confession and any evidence the police gathered as a result of it deemed inadmissible in the case against him. Other defenses might include misidentification, lack of a weapon, or others that might help to reduce the charges.

Get Help from a Fort Pierce Criminal Lawyer

People who are charged with serious felony crimes in Florida might think that they will be convicted as charged. However, it is often possible to defend against criminal charges by carefully reviewing the evidence and identifying problems with how the police conducted their stops, investigations, arrests, and interrogations. Attorney Jonathan Jay Kirschner, Esq. has 38 years of experience defending people against all types of criminal offenses and can help you to understand your legal options and rights. To learn more about the defenses that might be available in your case, contact us today by calling (772) 489-8501.