Los Angeles Robbery Lawyer

Have you just been arrested or charged with robbery in Los Angeles? This is one of the most serious felony charges you can face in California, and you deserve strong legal representation.

At William S. Kroger Criminal Defense Attorney At Law, our defense team brings more than 75 years of combined criminal defense experience to every case.

We have handled thousands of criminal cases throughout California, including robbery, assault, drug offenses, and violent felonies. Contact us today for a free consultation: (323) 655-5700. There is no obligation. The sooner you call, the sooner we start protecting your rights.

Why Choose William S. Kroger Criminal Defense Attorney At Law for Your Los Angeles Robbery Case?

Not every defense lawyer is the same. You need a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has actually been in the courtroom, fought the prosecution, and won.

Here’s what sets our firm apart:

• Our team has more than 75 years of combined criminal defense experience across California courts.
• We have successfully defended clients in large-scale narcotics cases, including securing a not guilty verdict in a case involving 220 kilos of cocaine.
• We have obtained dismissals in serious felony matters, including violent crime charges.
• We are recognized by Super Lawyers and the American Institute of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
• We serve Spanish-speaking clients with interpreters available when needed.
• We carefully walk you through every stage of the criminal process so you are never left in the dark.

Our main office is in Beverly Hills, and we represent clients facing robbery charges throughout Los Angeles County. When your freedom and your future are at stake, you deserve a team that knows how to fight.

Why Should I Hire a Los Angeles Robbery Attorney?

The state of California moves fast once you are charged with robbery. Prosecutors begin building their case immediately, locking in witness statements and gathering evidence before you even have a chance to respond.

Every hour you wait is an hour the prosecution has without a defense team pushing back.

A skilled robbery defense attorney will:

• Review all evidence the prosecution intends to use against you.
• Identify weaknesses, inconsistencies, and constitutional violations in the case.
• Challenge improper police conduct, unlawful searches, or coerced confessions.
• Explain your legal rights and what you can realistically expect at each stage.

Attorney William Kroger is a seasoned criminal defense lawyer with decades of experience handling felony cases in Los Angeles. Do not speak to police or prosecutors without an attorney present.

Call (323) 655-5700 now for your free case review.

What Is Robbery? (Under California Law)

Robbery is not the same as theft. In California, robbery is a violent felony because it involves taking property directly from another person using force or fear. Even if no weapon was used and no one was physically hurt, you can still face serious felony charges. California law divides robbery into two degrees under Penal Code 212.5 PC, with penalties set out in Penal Code 213 PC.

California Penal Code 211 PC

Under California Penal Code Section 211 PC, robbery is defined as the taking of personal property from another person, against their will, using force or fear to accomplish the taking or to prevent resistance.

To convict you of robbery under PC 211, the prosecution must prove all of the following:

1. You took property that belonged to someone else.
2. The property was in the other person’s immediate possession at the time.
3. The taking was against that person’s will.
4. You used force or fear to take the property or to prevent the victim from resisting.
5. You intended to permanently deprive the person of the property, or to keep it long enough that they would lose a major portion of its value or use.

It is important to know that the use of force or fear does not have to happen at the exact moment of taking. Under California law, if you use force or fear immediately after the taking, to escape or retain the property, you can still be charged with robbery under PC 211.

Force or Fear

“Force” in a robbery case means any physical act beyond what is needed to simply snatch property. Pushing, hitting, restraining, or even grabbing a person’s arm can qualify.

“Fear” means causing the victim to reasonably believe that they or someone nearby would be harmed if they resisted. An implied threat, even without words, can be enough to satisfy this element.

This is one of the most contested issues in robbery cases. Whether force or fear was actually used, and whether it was enough to rise to the level required under PC 211, is often where strong defenses are built.

Intent to Permanently Deprive

The prosecution must prove you intended to permanently take the property from the victim, or to keep it long enough that the owner would lose a major portion of its value or enjoyment. If you believed the property was yours, or if you took it under a mistaken but good-faith belief, that can be a powerful defense.

This element matters a lot in cases where relationships, shared property, or disputed ownership are involved.

Penalties for Robbery in California

Criminal Penalties

Robbery in California is always charged as a felony. There is no misdemeanor version. Under California Penal Code 213 PC, the penalties depend on whether the charge is first-degree or second-degree robbery, as defined in Penal Code 212.5 PC.

First-Degree Robbery (PC 212.5) applies when the victim is:

• A driver or passenger in a taxi, rideshare, or bus.
• Inside an inhabited dwelling, including a house, apartment, boat, or trailer coach.
• At an ATM or in the process of using an ATM.

First-degree robbery is punishable by (PC 213):

• Three, four, or six years in California state prison (standard cases).
• Three, six, or nine years if you acted in concert with two or more people inside an inhabited dwelling.
• Fines up to $10,000.
• Formal probation in some cases.

Second-Degree Robbery (PC 213) covers all other robbery situations and is punishable by:

• Two, three, or five years in California state prison.
• Fines up to $10,000.

Sentence enhancements can significantly increase your prison time:

• If a firearm was used: an additional 10 years in prison.
• If the firearm was fired: an additional 20 years.
• If someone was injured or killed by a firearm: 25 years to life.
• If there were two or more victims: each counts as a separate robbery charge.
• If you have prior serious or violent felony convictions, California’s Three Strikes Law may apply.

Collateral Consequences

A robbery conviction does not end when you complete your sentence. The non-criminal consequences follow you for years, sometimes for the rest of your life. This is exactly why you should not accept a plea without first consulting an attorney.

Collateral consequences of a robbery conviction in California include:

• Permanent felony record that shows up on background checks.
• Loss of the right to own or possess a firearm.
• Serious barriers to employment, especially in licensed professions.
• Difficulty renting housing or securing loans.
• Immigration consequences, including deportation or inadmissibility for non-citizens.
• Loss of professional licenses in fields such as healthcare, law, and finance.
• Potential impact on child custody or family court proceedings.
• Ineligibility for certain government benefits and public assistance programs.

These consequences are real and life-altering. Fighting the charge aggressively, from day one, gives you the best chance of avoiding them entirely.

Defenses Against Robbery Charges

Attorney William Kroger will review every detail of your case and identify every viable defense available to you. No two robbery cases are the same, and the facts of your situation matter more than anything else.

Common defenses in Los Angeles robbery cases include:

• Mistaken identity: Eyewitness accounts are frequently unreliable. You may have been misidentified as the person who committed the robbery.
• Lack of intent: If you did not intend to permanently deprive the victim of their property, a robbery conviction cannot stand.
• No force or fear was used: If the property was taken without any force, threat, or intimidation, the charge may not hold up under PC 211.
• Consent: If the alleged victim consented to the transfer of property, that is a complete defense.
• Alibi: If you were somewhere else when the robbery occurred, we will gather the evidence to prove it.
• Coerced confession or unlawful police conduct: Statements made without proper Miranda warnings or obtained through improper pressure may be suppressible.
• Insufficient evidence: The prosecution may simply not have enough evidence to prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

False accusations do happen in robbery cases, particularly when the identification was made in stressful circumstances or based on limited witness information. Physical evidence, surveillance footage, and witness testimony all play a critical role in your defense.

Speak With Our Los Angeles Robbery Attorney Today

If you or someone you love has been charged with robbery in Los Angeles, do not wait. The sooner you have an attorney in your corner, the better your position will be.

When you call William S. Kroger Criminal Defense Attorney At Law, here is what happens:

• You receive a free, confidential case review with no obligation.
• We explain your rights clearly and in plain language.
• We review the charges and the evidence against you.
• We identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
• We outline your options and what you can realistically expect.

Attorney William Kroger and our team have more than 75 years of combined experience defending people throughout Los Angeles and California. We have handled over 5,000 criminal cases. We are recognized by Super Lawyers and the American Institute of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Call us now at (323) 655-5700. Your consultation is free and there is no obligation to hire us. We are ready to help you today.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact William S. Kroger Criminal Defense Attorney At Law to speak with a licensed attorney about your specific situation.