Gainesville Criminal Defense Lawyers
Robbery and burglary are considered violent crimes, even in cases where an empty home is entered. These are also crimes in which the victim can appear in court. As a result, judges and prosecutors tend to be harsh on the accused.
At the law firm of Schackow Mercadante & Edwards in Gainesville, Florida, our lawyers defend people on charges ranging from petty theft, to embezzlement, to robbery, to burglary. We offer a free initial consultation to evaluate your case.
Consequences for Theft, Robbery and Burglary Convictions
Any conviction for a theft-related offense will result in a permanent criminal history that could affect your ability to find a job in the future. Employers routinely conduct background checks of job applicants and are hesitant to hire anyone with a conviction for theft, robbery or burglary.
Theft-related offenses can range from misdemeanors to felonies:
- Petit theft, a misdemeanor, is stealing money or property or shoplifting items valued at less than $300.
- Grand theft is theft of items valued at $300 or more, and is a felony.
- Robbery is theft of any property from someone's person, and is a felony even if the value of the item taken is less than $300.
- Burglary is entering or remaining in a residence, car, or structure for the purpose of committing a crime. It is a felony even if you don't take any property.
- If you are convicted of holding a weapon in a robbery, you face a minimum 10-year prison sentence. If you shoot the gun, the minimum sentence is 20 years. If the bullet hits someone, the minimum sentence is 25 years to life.
Defenses in Theft, Robbery and Burglary Cases
Prosecutors deal with hundreds of police reports, and when someone is arrested all they see is a crime. As your lawyers, our goal is to represent you as a real person.
If issues such as drug use or mental health problems led you to commit the crime, we can enroll you in treatment programs to deal with those issues. By doing so, we can show the court that rehabilitation is a better option than punishment.
First-time offenders may qualify for pre-trial diversion, which means we can resolve your case without a criminal conviction. If you are under age 22, you may qualify for favorable sentencing options under the Youthful Offender Act.
When juveniles are arrested on theft-related charges, our goal is to keep the charges from affecting the child's future.
Free attorney consultation: Contact Schackow Mercadante & Edwards in Gainesville, Florida, to talk to a lawyer about your case.
