Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Recently, two men were arrested after they allegedly robbed a female clerk at the Country Store II in Geneva Township. According to a news report at Mlive.com, the woman was robbed at knifepoint on December 2. When the incident was over, she jotted down the license plate number of the suspects’ vehicle.
The robbery occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Wednesday, when a man entered the store and demanded money from the 36-year-old clerk while wielding a knife. She was not harmed, but did give the man an undisclosed amount of cash before he left the store. She went out to the parking lot and wrote down the license plate of a car she thought was suspect.
After reporting the license plate number to police, officers from Midland and Coleman assisted in locating the two men who were involved, identified them, and arrested them. One of the suspects is a 37-year-old Mount Pleasant man, the other a 19-year-old Midland man. Police said the Bay County Sheriff’s Dept. assisted in arresting the Mount Pleasant man. Both were taken into custody; police have recommended they be charged with armed robbery.
Armed robbery is a very serious criminal offense, and involves the theft of property or money while in possession of a dangerous weapon. In fact, a suspect does not have to actually possess a gun, knife, or other “real” weapon; simply insinuating the presence of a weapon in a way that would instill fear in the victim and cause him or her to believe a weapon is present is enough to bring armed robbery charges.
When found guilty of armed robbery in Michigan, a defendant may face any number of years up to life in prison. There is no maximum punishment, however a person may be sentenced to two years, 10 years, 20 years, or any other number of years depending on the crime, and the punishment jurors or the judge deem fitting for the offense.
Anyone who is accused of armed robbery must consult with an experienced and aggressive Michigan criminal defense lawyer immediately. No matter how violent or serious a crime may be, every individual who is arrested and charged with a theft or larceny crime is innocent until proven guilty. Your legal rights must be protected, and a vigorous defense mounted in order to protect your freedom and future. Those accused of a serious felony offense should never attempt to defend themselves without the legal support and guidance of a skilled defense attorney.