FBI Gets Involved in Georgia Armed Robbery

The FBI has gotten involved in a case where a man allegedly robbed a PNC Bank in Sandy Springs at gunpoint. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information.

According to reports, a man described as being in his 40s or 50s, standing about 5 feet and 7 inches with a medium build, walked into the PNC on New Northside Drive and pulled out a handgun. The surveillance videos show that he was wearing a dark jacket, a ball cap and had something covering his face.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense faced by the unknown suspect.

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 charged or accused of armed robbery, it is crucial to hire a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney who understands which defense to utilize to avoid the mandatory ten year sentence.

There are Georgia Criminal Defenses, but the most applicable defense for an armed robbery arrest is a conviction for lesser included defenses in Georgia.

This defense can be utilized by either establishing by proof of the same or less than all the facts or a less culpable mental state than is required to establish the commission of the charged crime; or by differing the crime charged only in the respect that a less serious injury or risk of injury to the same person, property, or public interest or a lesser kind of culpability suffices to establish its commission.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact our offices today. We specialize in Georgia Criminal Defense and can help you today.