Augusta Man Convicted of Bank Robbery

Richmond County Courthouse

Augusta, Ga. - Richmond County authorities have convicted a man of armed robbery. He has been sentenced to over twenty years in prison for robbing two local banks.

He was accused of carrying an AR-15-style rifle into one of the banks and threatening a teller until they handed over cash. He was also accused of wielding two pistols while robbing the other bank.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of armed robbery in today's post.

Armed Robbery in Georgia

Armed robbery in Georgia is one of the most serious offenses in the state. By law, armed robbery is laid out in the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §16-8-41:

A person commits the offense of armed robbery when, with intent to commit theft, he or she takes property of another from the person or the immediate presence of another by use of an offensive weapon, or any replica, article, or device have the appearance of such weapon.

An offensive weapon includes weapons which are offensive per se, but also embraces other instrumentalities not normally considered to be offensive in and of themselves but which may be found by a jury likely to produce death or great bodily injury depending on the manner and means of their use.

Armed robbery is a serious violent felony in Georgia, and therefore, the penalties are extremely severe. If an individual is convicted of armed robbery, there is a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison.

There is also a maximum sentence of life in prison.

However, the most severe penalty in Georgia for Armed Robbery is the death penalty.

Practice Note

If accused of a crime in Georgia, it is important to call our offices now. We can help you with your case and let you know what options we have available for you.