What should someone do after being accused of robbery in the first degree?

They should avoid discussing the allegations with police, complainants, witnesses, employers, schools, or codefendants before speaking with counsel. Early defense work can protect statements, evidence, bail issues, and grand jury strategy.

Can robbery in the first degree charges be challenged in New York?

Yes. Possible defenses depend on the evidence and may involve intent, identification, value, injury, possession, unlawful entry, use of force, witness reliability, video, forensic proof, search legality, statements, or whether prosecutors can prove the charged degree.

Why does the exact degree of robbery in the first degree matter?

Different degrees can carry different felony levels, sentencing exposure, plea posture, immigration risk, employment consequences, and required proof. A defense strategy should be built around the exact statute and theory charged.

New York Criminal Defense

New York Robbery in the First Degree Lawyer

Lebedin Kofman LLP defends clients charged with robbery in the first degree in New York, including high-exposure cases involving alleged serious injury, deadly weapons, firearms, and forcible stealing.

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Defense for robbery in the first degree Charges

Robbery in the first degree is among the most serious theft-related charges in New York. Prosecutors often try to elevate a larceny or confrontation into first-degree robbery based on weapon allegations, injury claims, surveillance, identifications, statements, or co-defendant evidence.

The New York Courts Penal Law jury-instruction table lists Article 160 Robbery and separate robbery-degree instructions. First-degree robbery requires charge-specific defense work because it can involve weapon, firearm, display, or serious-injury theories.

What Prosecutors May Focus On

Prosecutors may rely on complainant testimony, video, phone data, recovery of property, medical records, weapon evidence, lineups, social media, text messages, and alleged statements.

The exact statutory degree and aggravating facts alleged.
Identification, intent, force, value, injury, entry, possession, or other required elements.
Video, medical records, financial records, 911 calls, witness accounts, forensic evidence, and alleged statements.

Defense Issues to Review Early

The defense should review identification, force, property recovery, weapon proof, injury proof, suppression issues, co-defendant statements, and whether the facts support the specific first-degree theory charged.

Whether police obtained statements, searches, lineups, records, or devices lawfully.
Whether the evidence supports the charged degree or a lower charge.
Whether witnesses, valuation records, injury claims, entry proof, or identification evidence are reliable.
Whether employment, licensing, immigration, school, housing, reputation, or order-of-protection consequences require immediate attention.

How Lebedin Kofman Approaches These Cases

Lebedin Kofman LLP evaluates the specific statute, evidence, procedural posture, and collateral consequences from the outset. Depending on the facts, the defense may involve pre-arrest intervention, grand jury advocacy, suppression motions, forensic or financial review, expert consultation, negotiation, or trial preparation.

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If you are under investigation or charged with robbery in the first degree, early defense representation can affect the direction of the case.

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Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts, evidence, procedural posture, and applicable law.