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In Massachusetts, armed robbery (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 § 17) is a crime that is punishable by life in prison. When a person is charged with a crime that carries a punishment of life in prison, a possible outcome can be staying behind bars until a parole board allows release — if ever. What is more, the punishment can be any amount of time, even longer than “life.”
For instance, if a person is convicted of armed robbery and punished to “life,” they may be eligible for parole after fifteen years in prison. That same person could be punished to thirty to fifty years for the same offense, effectively double the amount that a person sentenced to life would receive. There is no greater potential exposure than when you are charged (or indicted) for a life felony. As there is no greater exposure, there is no better reason to hire experienced robbery defense attorneys Murat Erkan and Ryan Sullivan. That’s why having an experienced Lowell armed robbery lawyer who will rigorously defend your rights and explore every possible defense is essential.
What Is an Armed Robbery?
So what is armed robbery? To find a person guilty, the prosecutor is required to prove that:
- The person was armed with a dangerous weapon
- The person either used force against the victim or put the victim in fear
- The person took something of value with the intent to steal
- The item of value was taken from the immediate control of the victim
A skilled Lowell armed robbery lawyer from Erkan & Sullivan, P.C., can dissect the prosecution’s case and expose weaknesses in their evidence to ensure they cannot prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Masked Armed Robbery
There are additional punishments for a person who is “masked or disguised or while having his features artificially distorted” who commits an armed robbery. This is – somewhat obviously – known as masked armed robbery. The prosecutor has to prove the same facts as above, but is also required to prove:
- The person committed the armed robbery while masked or disguised or while having his or her features artificially distorted
For a person convicted of a first offense masked armed robbery, the punishment requires a minimum five years in prison. A person is convicted of a second offense of masked armed robbery is punished by a minimum of ten years in state prison.
When you are being charged with masked armed robbery in Lowell, the stakes are even higher—and you need a lawyer who will aggressively challenge whether the prosecution can actually prove you were masked or disguised.
Armed Robbery With Firearm
A person who is convicted of armed robbery “while armed with a firearm, shotgun, rife, machine gun or assault weapon” is punished by a minimum of five years in prison. A conviction for second offense armed robbery using a firearm, shotgun, rifle, machine gun or assault weapon carries a minimum punishment of fifteen years in state prison.
The added weight of a firearm charge makes it even more important for accused individuals in Lowell to have an experienced armed robbery lawyer.
Call Lowell Armed Robbery Defense Attorneys Erkan & Sullivan Today
Defense Attorneys Murat Erkan and Ryan Sullivan have handled several armed robbery cases in Massachusetts Superior Courts. Notably, Attorney Sullivan tried a second offense masked armed robbery case in the Lowell Superior Court in May of 2018. To learn more about this trial, which resulted in a not guilty finding, you can click here. If you are charged with, or under investigation for, an armed robbery charge, contact a Lowell armed robbery lawyer at Erkan & Sullivan today at (978) 474-0054 or e-mail us today.
