NJ Attorney Fighting Robbery Charges (N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1)

Experienced Lawyer fighting Robbery Charges throughout Bergen, Hudson and Essex County, New Jersey.

A robbery charge in New Jersey is a serious criminal offense that may result in incarceration. Robbery is essentially a theft that includes physical force or the threat of physical force. The theft and the physical force or the threat of force must occur at the same time. According to New Jersey’s robbery statute (N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1), the force must occur “in the course of committing a theft.”

Robbery Defined

The New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice states that a person is guilty of robbery if he or she does the following:

• Inflicts bodily injury or uses force on another person; or
• Threatens a person with or purposely puts the person in fear of immediate bodily injury; or
• Commits or threatens immediately to commit any crime of the first or second degree.

To establish guilt, the following four elements must be proven: the accused committed or attempted to commit a theft, the accused threatened or used force in the course of the theft, the force or the threat of force occurred during the course of the theft or during flight from the theft, and the actions of the accused were intentional.

First and Second-Degree Robbery

In general, a robbery is a second-degree offense. It becomes a first-degree offense when in the course of committing the theft the actor attempts to kill anyone, or purposely attempts to inflict serious bodily injury, or is armed with, or uses or threatens the immediate use of a deadly weapon.

Obtaining Legal Help

If you have been charged with robbery in New Jersey, it is advisable to seek legal representation from a criminal lawyer immediately. Mark J. Cintron is a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer with experience handling a variety of criminal cases, including robbery. Our offices are located in Ridgefield Park, New Brunswick, Montclair, West New York and Parsippany. Call (201) 791-1333 to schedule an appointment.