Robbery isn’t just theft with violence added on — in Texas, you don’t even need to take anything for it to count, and the presence of a weapon can push the charge into first-degree felony territory instantly. A Houston robbery lawyer can walk you through exactly how the State is framing your case.
What Separates Robbery From Theft
- Bodily injury or threat, in the course of theft: Robbery applies when, while committing theft, you intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily injury or place someone in fear of imminent bodily injury or death.
- No completed theft required: The charge applies even if the theft itself was never completed — the attempt combined with the injury or threat is enough.
- Aggravated robbery: Applies when a deadly weapon is used or exhibited, or the victim is elderly or disabled.
How Texas Punishes It
- Second-degree felony: 2 to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine for standard robbery.
- First-degree felony: 5 to 99 years or life for aggravated robbery.
Where These Cases Are Defended
Identification is frequently the central issue in robbery cases — eyewitness accounts made under stress are notoriously unreliable. Whether a weapon was actually a “deadly weapon” as defined by statute, and whether the threat or injury genuinely occurred in the course of a theft, are also frequently contested.
Charged With Robbery? Contact Blass Law Now
Contact Blass Law for a confidential case evaluation or call (713)-664-4000 — these are serious felony charges that require an immediate defense.
Related Charges
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful Restraint
- Injury to a Child, Elderly, or Disabled Person
- Aggravated Assault
- All Criminal Defense Practice Areas
Reviewed by Jay Blass Cohen, founder of Blass Law PLLC — ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist, certified Drug Recognition Expert, and SFST instructor, serving Houston since 2009. This article is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.