When you’re charged with robbery in Boulder County, everything feels overwhelming. The prosecution labels you a violent offender. The police treat you like you’re already guilty. And your future hangs in the balance.
At Dawson Law Office, our Boulder robbery defense lawyers know robbery charges demand immediate, aggressive defense. But first, you need to understand exactly what you’re facing.
Colorado Robbery Charges Explained
In Colorado, robbery isn’t just theft – it’s classified as a violent crime with severe consequences. Three primary types of robbery charges exist under Colorado law:
Simple Robbery (C.R.S. § 18-4-301)
Taking anything of value from another person using:
- Force
- Threats
- Intimidation
Penalties include:
- Class 4 felony
- 2-6 years in state prison
- Up to $500,000 in fines
- Mandatory parole period
- Violent crime sentence enhancers
Aggravated Robbery (C.R.S. § 18-4-302)
When the robbery involves:
- Use of a deadly weapon
- Claiming to be armed
- Possession of any weapon
- Putting someone in fear of death/injury
Consequences escalate to:
- Class 3 felony
- 4-16 years in prison
- Mandatory violent crime enhancements
- Up to $750,000 in fines
- Extended parole terms
Aggravated Robbery of Controlled Substances (C.R.S. § 18-4-303)
Taking any controlled substance from:
- A pharmacy
- Medical facility
- Person authorized to possess drugs
This specialized charge carries:
- Class 2 felony classification
- 8-24 years in prison
- Mandatory minimum sentences
- Drug offense implications
- Enhanced parole requirements
What Prosecutors Must Prove to Convict You of Robbery
For any robbery conviction in Colorado, the District Attorney must prove specific elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
Simple Robbery Elements
- You knowingly
- Took something of value
- From another person or their presence
- Using force, threats, or intimidation
Aggravated Robbery Additional Elements
- You were armed with a deadly weapon
- You used force, threats, or intimidation
- You knowingly put someone in reasonable fear
- You intended to kill, maim, or wound if resisted
Controlled Substance Robbery Elements
- You knowingly took controlled substances
- From an authorized person/facility
- Using force, threats, or intimidation
- Specific intent to deprive permanently
Miss any element, and they can’t convict you.
How Robbery Differs From Other Theft Crimes
Understanding these distinctions is crucial:
Theft (C.R.S. § 18-4-401)
- No force or threats involved
- Penalties based on property value
- Often eligible for misdemeanor pleas
- Typically allows probation
- No violent crime designation
Burglary (C.R.S. § 18-4-202)
- Unlawful entry required
- No personal confrontation needed
- Different intent requirements
- Separate sentence structures
- Property crime classification
Robbery
- Always involves force/threats
- Always a felony
- Prison time likely
- Violent crime designation
- Strike offense implications
Defending Against Robbery Charges in Boulder
When we defend robbery cases, we dig deep into every aspect of the prosecution’s evidence. Here’s how we attack these cases:
Challenge the Identification
The prosecution must prove it was actually you who committed the robbery. We scrutinize every aspect of their identification evidence.
- Did the witness only see the perpetrator for a few seconds in poor lighting?
- Was there a hat or mask involved?
- Did police show a photo lineup where your picture stood out from the others?
These details matter because eyewitness identification is notoriously unreliable. People make mistakes, especially in stressful situations. If we can show the witness wasn’t in a position to make a reliable identification or that police procedures tainted the identification process, we can often get these charges dismissed.
Attack the Force Element
Robbery requires actual force or threats. Maybe there was a struggle but no intention to take property. Perhaps words were misinterpreted as threats when they weren’t meant that way. We look at:
- The exact words used
- Previous interactions between parties
- Context of the entire situation
- Whether “force” was actually just incidental contact
Remember: Without force or threats, it’s not robbery – it might be theft, but that’s a much less serious charge with better sentencing options.
Question Their Evidence
The prosecution’s evidence often isn’t as strong as they claim:
- Surveillance video might be grainy or shot from bad angles
- Weapons are often never recovered
- DNA evidence can be contaminated or inconclusive
- Cell phone location data isn’t as precise as they pretend
- Witnesses often change their stories or have credibility issues
We know how to expose these weaknesses and use them to create reasonable doubt.
Constitutional Violations
Police often cut corners in robbery investigations:
- Searching without proper warrants
- Questioning suspects without Miranda warnings
- Denying access to attorneys during questioning
- Using suggestive identification procedures
- Violating due process rights
When we catch these violations, we can often get crucial evidence thrown out, seriously weakening their case.
Beyond the Criminal Case
A robbery conviction doesn’t just mean prison time. It triggers a cascade of consequences:
The “violent crime” designation means:
- Mandatory prison time instead of probation
- Higher security classification in prison
- Limited good time credits
- Restricted housing options after release
A robbery conviction also:
- Makes finding employment extremely difficult
- Can result in deportation for non-citizens
- Prevents professional licensing
- Restricts where you can live
- Takes away your right to own firearms
- Can be used to enhance future sentences
That’s why it’s crucial to fight these charges aggressively from day one. At Dawson Law Office, we look at every angle, challenge every piece of evidence, and work to either get charges dismissed or reduced to non-violent offenses with better sentencing options.
Boulder Robbery Defense That Makes a Difference
At Dawson Law Office, we know how to challenge every aspect of a robbery case. We understand the prosecution’s playbook. We know where to look for constitutional violations. Most importantly, we know how to protect your rights and fight for your freedom.
Don’t face robbery charges alone. Contact Dawson Law Office today to schedule a confidential case evaluation. We’ll analyze your charges, explain your options, and show you how we can fight to protect your future.
The prosecution is already building their case. Time is critical. Call now.
