The official definition of robbery in Florida includes “the taking of money or other property from the person or custody of another, with intent to either permanently or temporarily deprive the person or the owner of the money or other property, when in the course of the taking there is the use of force, violence, assault, or putting in fear.”

Armed robbery occurs when the individual uses a deadly weapon in the commission of the crime. A deadly weapon can include anything from a gun to a knife. However, there are stricter penalties for those who possess a firearm during the crime. Armed robbery is a serious offense with higher penalties than a robbery.

In Florida, there is a unique crime called “sudden snatching.” Under state law, this offense occurs when the individual “takes money (or other property of value) from the alleged victim’s person with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive that person of their money or property, when in the course of the taking, the alleged victim was or becomes aware of the taking.” 

Under the law, the state does not have to prove that violence, force, or threat were used in the crime. Purse snatching and pickpocketing all fall under the category of sudden snatching. 

Sudden snatching is still a felony offense, and it carries penalties of:

• Five years in prison
• A $5,000 fine
• Five years of probation

Like most crimes in Florida, if a deadly weapon or firearm was in an individual’s possession, then the crime enhances to a second-degree felony. At this point, the courts are obligated to impose a minimum 21-month prison sentence.

Florida prosecutors can charge you with a specific degree of robbery. These charges include:

• Third-degree robbery: This is the lowest classification of robbery. The items were stolen without any use of violence, force, or threat. It is still a felony, but penalties can range from probation to several years in prison.
• Second-degree robbery: If the offense was committed without a weapon, it is considered a second-degree felony. This crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
• First-degree robbery: The crime was committed with a deadly weapon or firearm. This offense carries the strictest sentence of life in prison. 

If you are convicted of robbery in Kissimmee, the court could characterize you as a:

• Prison releasee reoffender
• Violent career criminal
• Habitual violent felony offender
• Three-time violent felony offender

As a result, you will have a felony conviction on your record for the rest of your life. A robbery conviction can impact your education, employment, and housing opportunities. You need to speak with a Kissimmee criminal defense attorney, like Ken Eulo, to discuss your case.

There are other robbery classifications in the state, such as:

• Home invasion: When an individual enters a home or dwelling with the intent to take property with the use of force, threat, or violence, that is considered home invasion robbery. This is a first-degree felony that is punishable by 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 
• Carjacking: This is another form of robbery. It is committed when an individual unlawfully takes a person’s vehicle by use of force, threat, or violence. Carjacking is a first-degree felony, with punishments of a $10,000 fine and 30 years in prison. 
• Robbery with a firearm. Any robbery with a deadly weapon will face the strictest penalties in the state. However, there are enhanced penalties for those who used a firearm in the commission of the crime. Whether the individual used the firearm or not, the actual possession of a firearm is punishable under the mandatory 10/20/Life enhancement. These penalties include life in prison, lifetime probation, and $15,000 fines. 

Your criminal defense lawyer will craft a defense for your case. Depending on the circumstances, your case might include one of these common defenses:

• Mistaken identity: You have been misidentified as the offender in the crime.
• No use of a weapon: During the crime, the victim may have misidentified a weapon. Some objects might not meet the legal definition of a weapon in Florida. 
• No use of fear or violence: There is a fine line between theft and robbery in Florida. If the offense involved no violence or fear, you might not be guilty of robbery. 

As you can tell, any accusation of robbery is a serious charge in the state. If convicted, you could lose everything from your job to home. Florida aggressively prosecutes robbery offenses. You will want to discuss your situation with an experienced robbery defense attorney. 

Ken Eulo is Kissimmee’s top criminal defense lawyer and has successfully represented countless individuals charged with robbery. He will defend your rights during this process. To schedule a consultation, please call the Kissimmee office.