Georgia Taxi Driver Robbed at Gunpoint

According to reports out of Columbus, a female taxi driver was robbed at gunpoint in LaGrange a little after 4:00 am this past Thursday morning.

She immediately called 911 and explained that she had been robbed by two passengers. Police are still searching for the two passengers and have asked the public for help if anyone has any information.

One of the offenses in the story above that the two men have been accused of committing is armed robbery. Armed robbery is classified as a serious violent felony in the state of Georgia. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney, I will outline the law behind the crime of armed robbery as well as what it means to be classified as a serious violent felony in the state of Georgia.

Armed Robbery in Georgia

Georgia Law defines armed robbery in Georgia in O.C.G.A. §16-8-41 of the Georgia Code. The law is as follows:

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.

Courts have gone back and forth through the years as to what constitutes an offensive weapon as well as if replica or toys can be considered offensive weapons. After years of debating, it has been established that an offensive weapon includes not only 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.

An armed robbery conviction can include a potential sentence of ten to twenty years in prison with the very minimum being ten years in prison with no early release.

Practice Note

Serious Violent Felony Offenders in Georgia are significantly limited as a result of their criminal records. Call our offices today if you or a loved one has been arrested.