Robbery

Under A.R.S. § 13-1902, a person commits robbery by, in the course of taking any property of another from his or her person or immediate presence, threatening or using force against any person with the intent either to coerce surrender of property or to prevent resistance to the taking.

What Distinguishes Robbery from Theft

Robbery is essentially theft accomplished through force or the threat of force. The victim must be present, and the property must be taken from their person or immediate presence. This distinguishes robbery from theft and burglary, which can be committed without any direct confrontation.

Penalties

Robbery is a Class 4 felony. A first-time offender faces a presumptive sentence of 2.5 years with a range of 1 to 3.75 years. However, if the offense is designated as a dangerous offense, mandatory prison time applies.

Defenses

Defenses include challenging whether force or the threat of force was actually used, disputing identification, arguing that the defendant had a claim of right to the property, or challenging the element of intent.