Robbery Defense Attorneys in Westchester County

Former Prosecutors. 100+ Years of Combined Experience. Free Consultation.

All robbery charges in New York are felonies, and a conviction can follow a person for decades. At Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP, we defend clients facing robbery charges throughout Westchester County, bringing over 100 years of combined criminal defense experience and a team that includes former prosecutors who understand firsthand how the Westchester County District Attorney builds these cases. That inside knowledge shapes every defense strategy we develop.

Our offices in White Plains and Cortlandt Manor serve clients across the county. Every matter begins with a free initial consultation so we can assess the specific facts, explain your exposure, and identify the strongest path forward.

Whether you are charged with robbery or a loved one has been arrested based on allegations of robbery, you need to take immediate action and contact our firm at once. 

Classes of Robbery Under New York Penal Law

New York Penal Law Article 160 defines robbery as forcible stealing: committing larceny while using or threatening the immediate use of physical force against another person. The degree of the charge depends on aggravating factors present at the time of the offense.

New York recognizes three degrees of robbery:

• Robbery in the third degree (PL 160.05): A class D felony, charged when a person forcibly steals property with no additional aggravating factors present.
• Robbery in the second degree (PL 160.10): A class C violent felony and the most commonly charged degree in New York. Aggravating factors include being aided by another person who is actually present, causing physical injury to a non-participant, displaying what appears to be a firearm, or stealing a motor vehicle.
• Robbery in the first degree (PL 160.15): A class B violent felony. Factors that elevate a charge to this degree include causing serious physical injury to a non-participant, being armed with a deadly weapon, using or threatening to use a dangerous instrument, or displaying what appears to be a firearm.

How We Defend Robbery Charges in Westchester County

Defending a robbery charge is not a single-step process. These cases often involve multiple co-defendants, weapons allegations, injury claims, surveillance footage, phone records, and forensic evidence. Each element requires independent analysis before any strategy takes shape.

Several of our attorneys prosecuted robbery cases before joining the defense bar. That experience, recognized by Super Lawyers and reflected in our attorneys’ national authorship in criminal defense, tells us how the other side thinks before we build our own case.

How We Investigate & Build the Defense

Defense work in a robbery case typically includes:

• Reconstructing the sequence of events and determining exactly what happened
• Investigating statements any participants made to law enforcement
• Challenging identifications made of the accused, including eyewitness accounts that can be unreliable under the stress of a robbery encounter
• Scrutinizing the legality of police investigative procedures, including search and seizure issues that may warrant a motion to suppress evidence
• Analyzing surveillance footage, phone records, and forensic evidence for inconsistencies

In Westchester County, all felony robbery charges are transferred from local courts to Westchester County Court in White Plains for prosecution. Prosecutors also retain discretion over which degree to charge, which is why early intervention matters. The earlier we are involved, the more opportunities may exist to limit charge exposure before a grand jury indictment is handed down.

Why Immediate Attorney Contact Matters

Speaking to law enforcement without an attorney present is one of the most damaging things an accused person can do. Statements made before counsel is involved can be used to undermine every defense that follows. Our team can be present at arraignment, bail hearings, and grand jury proceedings, protecting our clients’ rights from the first moment of contact with the criminal justice system.

Building a defense requires multiple conversations between attorney and client. The facts of a robbery case are rarely straightforward, and a defense built on incomplete information is a defense built on risk. We take the time to understand every detail before advising on strategy.

Sentencing Ranges for Robbery Convictions in New York

Because robbery at the second- and first-degree levels is classified as a violent felony offense, New York imposes mandatory minimum sentences that a judge can’t waive. Understanding the potential consequences is essential before making any decisions about a case.

Potential sentencing ranges by degree:

• Third-degree robbery (class D felony): No mandatory minimum for first-time offenders. Maximum sentence of 2⅓ to 7 years in state prison. Probation or a conditional discharge may be available.
• Second-degree robbery (class C violent felony): Mandatory minimum of 3.5 years in state prison. Maximum of 15 years. Probation isn’t an authorized sentence for this degree.
• First-degree robbery (class B violent felony): Mandatory minimum of 5 years in state prison. Maximum of 25 years.

Prior felony convictions substantially increase sentencing exposure at every degree. Courts may also impose fines of up to $5,000 and order restitution to the victim in addition to any period of incarceration. Because all robbery charges are felonies, state prison is a real possibility across the full range. Our robbery lawyers in Westchester County can walk through every sentencing scenario that applies to your case.

Call Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP today at (914) 840-5104 to schedule your free initial consultation.