Robbery Lawyer in Prince George's County
Robbery is one of the most serious felony charges in Maryland. It is a violent crime in the eyes of the law, it carries the possibility of fifteen to twenty years in prison, and it is prosecuted aggressively by the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office. If you or someone you know is facing a robbery or armed robbery charge in PG County, this is not a case to approach without experienced legal representation.
FrizWoods has defended robbery, armed robbery, carjacking, and armed carjacking cases in Prince George's County and throughout Maryland. Max Frizalone is a former Prince George's County Assistant State's Attorney who spent years on the other side of these cases. He knows exactly how they are built and where they fall apart.
What Is Robbery Under Maryland Law?
Robbery is not just an aggravated theft. Under Maryland Criminal Law Section 3-402, robbery is defined as taking another person's property through the use or threat of force. It has two core elements:
- A taking of property (the theft component, under Section 7-104)
- The use or threat of force against a person (the second-degree assault component)
When both occur simultaneously and for the same purpose, the crime of robbery is complete. The State does not need to prove serious physical injury occurred. The threat of force is enough.
Maryland recognizes four types of robbery charges:
- Robbery (Section 3-402): Unarmed robbery by force or threat
- Armed Robbery (Section 3-403): Robbery committed with a dangerous weapon
- Carjacking (Section 3-405): Taking a motor vehicle from another person by force or fear
- Armed Carjacking (Section 3-405): Carjacking with a dangerous weapon
Robbery Penalties in Prince George's County
The penalties depend on the specific charge:
- Unarmed Robbery: Maximum of 15 years in prison
- Armed Robbery: Maximum of 20 years in prison
- Carjacking: Maximum of 30 years in prison
- Armed Carjacking: Maximum of 30 years in prison
These are not theoretical maximums. Robbery convictions in Prince George's County regularly result in multi-year sentences, especially when the defendant has a prior record or the alleged offense involved a weapon or injury. All robbery charges are heard in the Prince George's County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro, because they are felonies with potential sentences above what District Court jurisdiction covers.
What Counts as a "Dangerous Weapon"?
Maryland's definition of a dangerous weapon is deliberately broad. It is any object capable of causing serious bodily injury. A loaded gun is an obvious example, but an unloaded gun used as a bludgeon qualifies. So does a piece of wood, a sharp object, or virtually any item the State can argue was capable of causing injury. If the officer or victim claims a weapon was present, the charge can be elevated to armed robbery with the significantly higher 20-year maximum.
Carjacking in Prince George's County
Carjacking is prosecuted frequently in Prince George's County. Cases often arise from incidents along Route 1, Route 301, in Hyattsville, Riverdale, or in areas near Washington, D.C. where vehicle thefts and carjackings occur at elevated rates compared to other Maryland jurisdictions.
One of the most important and most overlooked aspects of carjacking cases is mistaken identification. A victim who was just threatened or assaulted at close range, under stress, often does not get a reliable look at the perpetrator. Police subsequently conduct photo arrays or show-up identifications that can be suggestive and lead to false accusations. Read more about carjacking defense strategies.
How the State Proves Robbery in PG County
The Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office builds robbery cases using a combination of:
Eyewitness and victim identification. The victim's identification is typically the foundation of a robbery case. This seems like overwhelming evidence, but it is frequently the weakest part of the State's case. Courts across the country have recognized that eyewitness identification is among the least reliable forms of evidence. Show-ups conducted at the scene immediately after an incident, photo arrays where the suspect is presented prominently, and "confirmatory" identifications where a witness is shown only one person are all susceptible to challenge.
Surveillance footage. Prince George's County businesses and intersections are widely covered by cameras. Prosecutors use footage to establish what a suspect looked like, their route of travel, and in some cases their identity. But surveillance footage is frequently challenged for its quality, whether the person depicted can actually be identified, and whether the officer who claims to recognize the defendant has a reliable basis for doing so.
Physical evidence. Fingerprints, DNA, and items recovered from a defendant or their vehicle are common in robbery cases. The forensic science behind fingerprint and DNA analysis has been subject to increasing scrutiny. Chain of custody errors, lab handling issues, and the reliability of partial prints or mixed DNA profiles are all fair game for defense challenges.
Statements and confessions. Law enforcement in Prince George's County is experienced at extracting admissions during interrogations. Any statement made during a custodial interrogation without proper Miranda warnings, or made involuntarily, can be challenged through a motion to suppress. Statements made before a lawyer is present are particularly vulnerable. The best position is to have said nothing at all, but if statements were made, they can often be limited or excluded.
Building a Robbery Defense in Prince George's County
No two robbery cases are the same. The defense is built from the specific facts of what happened, what evidence the State has, and how that evidence was obtained.
Identification Challenges
If the case rests primarily on a victim or witness identification, the defense starts by examining how that identification was made. Was a show-up conducted at or near the scene shortly after the incident? Was the photo array constructed in a way that singled out your client? Was the witness told by police that they "had the guy" before being shown a lineup? These suggestive identification procedures can be challenged in pretrial motions, and in some cases, the identification evidence can be excluded entirely.
Suppression of Evidence
If Prince George's County police stopped, searched, or arrested the defendant without legal justification, evidence flowing from that stop can be suppressed. In robbery cases where police were acting on a dispatch call or tip, whether they had sufficient constitutional grounds for the stop and detention is a critical question.
Challenging the Force Element
Robbery requires proof of force or threat of force. If the State cannot establish that element beyond a reasonable doubt, the charge may be reducible to theft or another lesser offense with dramatically lower sentencing exposure. In cases where the "robbery" arose from a dispute between known parties, the force element is often the most contestable part of the case.
Mitigation and Plea Negotiations
In cases where the evidence is strong, preparing a thorough sentencing mitigation presentation can still make a meaningful difference in the outcome. Robbery sentences in Prince George's County Circuit Court have a wide range. The judge's decision on where within that range to sentence is influenced by the defendant's background, acceptance of responsibility, family circumstances, employment, and any treatment completed.
Why Choose FrizWoods for a Prince George's County Robbery Case
Max Frizalone personally prosecuted robbery, armed robbery, carjacking, and armed carjacking cases during his tenure as an Assistant State's Attorney with the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office. He secured not-guilty verdicts in armed robbery cases and understands the pressure points in these prosecutions from both sides of the table.
Luke Woods has over two decades of purely criminal defense experience, including felony acquittals and dismissals across Maryland's Circuit Courts. Both attorneys are familiar with the Prince George's County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro and the judges and prosecutors who handle these cases.
If you or a family member has been charged with robbery in Prince George's County, the time to act is now. Charges are filed, bail is set, and the case clock starts running from day one. Contact us immediately for a free consultation. We answer 24/7.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between robbery and theft in Prince George's County?
A: Theft is taking property without consent. Robbery adds the element of force or threat of force against a person during that taking. Because robbery incorporates an assault, it is a far more serious felony charge. Read more on our theft cases page and the robbery overview.
Q: Is armed robbery a felony in Maryland?
A: Yes. Both robbery and armed robbery are felonies. Armed robbery under Section 3-403 carries a maximum of 20 years. These cases are heard in the Prince George's County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro, not District Court.
Q: What if the robbery charge is based on a witness who got the identification wrong?
A: Mistaken identification is one of the most common defenses in robbery cases, and one of the most powerful. An attorney can file pretrial motions to challenge the reliability of the identification procedure and in some cases have the identification excluded from trial. The Maryland robbery defense guide explains these challenges in more detail.
Q: Can a robbery charge be reduced to theft in Prince George's County?
A: In some cases, particularly where the force element is weak or disputed, negotiation with the State's Attorney can result in a reduction to theft or another lesser charge. This outcome depends heavily on the evidence, the defendant's background, and the specific facts alleged.