Fresno Criminal Lawyer Blog

A Fresno armed robbery suspect was struck by a Fresno police detective's car and sent to the hospital with a head injury, according to The Associated Press.

Robbery in California is a serious crime and requires an experienced Fresno robbery attorney qualified to properly defend suspects against such serious charges.

Robbery is a crime defined by taking something from someone against their will and with force or threat. In California, the use of a weapon can enhance a potential sentence from a few years in prison up to life in prison.

The state has many laws on the books to deter people from committing robbery, such as the Three Strikes Law, which requires at least a 25-year prison sentence after three felony convictions. Prosecutors also have the 10-20-life law that requires at least 10 years in prison if convicted of using a gun during a crime.

The difference between robbery and burglary is that burglary is taking something from the home or vehicle of a person, rather than stealing it directly from them. Bank robbery, however, is especially serious because it is a federal offense and will be prosecuted in U.S. District Court.

In the case of the man struck by a Fresno police car, he is being hospitalized in critical condition. Police say the man was running from a check-cashing business recently when the detective noticed a car that she thought fit the description of a vehicle linked to a string of 10 armed robberies in recent weeks. Police said that a short time after following the vehicle, the man ran from a check-cashing business in front of the detective's car and was hit.

Fox News reports the man is being treated at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

Continue reading "Fresno Robbery Suspect Hit By Police Car, Hospitalized" »

A 33-year-old man wanted on charges of robbery and assault in Clovis has been arrested by police, the Fresno Bee reported.

The defendant is one of four men believed to have attacked a man at a Clovis residence in November, according to police. The defendant, who police say is a wanted parolee, was found and arrested at a South Argyle Avenue apartment. He was booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery, kidnapping and assault.

In other news, a 35-year-old man is facing charges of burglary in Visalia.

Police say the victim reported returning home shortly before Christmas and finding two men trying to ransack his house on West Country Avenue in Visalia. The men drove away in a white Honda Accord but the victim reported the license plate number to police.

A Fresno criminal defense attorney should always be called to handle robbery or burglary charges. How a defendant is charged can have a major impact on a case. Robbery and burglary are distinct crimes that each carry their own sentencing guidelines upon conviction. Robbery, which generally implies violence or the threat of force to a person who is at home at the time of the theft, is a more serious charge.

Whether a gun was used and whether a person was injured in the commission of a theft crime can also impact how a defendant is charged. Gang enhancements may also increase the potential penalty.

And frequently innocent parties are unfairly charged with receiving stolen property or obstruction of justice in connection with a theft crime and the subsequent investigation. In short, the state can charge you with whatever it wants. It's what you are convicted of in a court of law that matters. Your attorney will thoroughly review your case and help you decide upon the best course of action. Sometimes fighting a charge at trial is the best bet for protecting your rights. In other cases, challenging evidence or seeking a reduction or dismissal of the charges may offer the best outcome in your particular case.

Continue reading "Theft, burglary and robbery charges best left to experienced Fresno defense attorney" »

A 22-year-old man is facing armed robbery charges in Fresno after authorities say he robbed an ice cream and sandwich shop with a gun and a mask, Fox 26 reported.

Robbery charges are very serious. First- or second-degree robbery can carry a penalty of 5 to 9 years in prison. Multiple charges can carry a life sentence and robbery can also count as a strike conviction. Additionally, the use of a gun can add 10 years to a robbery sentence. Discharging a firearm can add 20 years.

In this case, Clovis police say the man entered the Togo's Baskin Robbins at Clovis and Shaw at about 10:30 p.m. Wearing a mask and armed with a gun, he forced four workers into the freezer and forced the manager to open the safe. He then fled in a red Pontiac with an undisclosed amount of money.

Clovis police report they attempted to stop the car, which resulted in a chase through Sierra and Price. The car then crashed into several parked cars and a telephone pole. The driver fled on foot. After several hours of searching, police were about to give up when the defendant reportedly walked by and was arrested.

He is facing armed robbery and felony evading charges and police say additional weapons charges are possible. No one inside the store was hurt.

Continue reading "Fresno armed robbery charge results from holdup of ice cream parlor " »