Posted on September 24, 2020 in Robbery
The FBI announced on September 9, 2020, that a serial bank robber in Phoenix had been arrested on August 28, 2020. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Taskforce arrested 59-year old Scott David Williams. The Phoenix Police Department assisted in the arrest.
The arrest followed a bank robbery. The robbery was just another robbery in a long string of bank robberies that Williams is accused of committing. In all, the FBI alleges that Williams committed seven bank robberies in Arizona between June 26, 2020, and August 28, 2020.
The alleged robberies occurred at these seven bank locations:
No one was physically injured in the commission of the bank robberies. In each case, Williams verbally demanded money from a bank teller.
Robbery is a form of theft. Theft charges also include burglary, receipt of stolen goods, embezzlement, and forgery.
The above charges against Williams are federal charges. However, Arizona has several state laws related to robbery that also have severe penalties for a guilty verdict.
Under state law, robbery is the use of threats or force against a person to force the person to surrender property. Your past criminal record has a direct impact on the severity of your jail sentence for a conviction on robbery charges. If you have past convictions for robberies, you will serve more time in prison.
Robbery is a Class 4 Felony in Arizona. If convicted under a Class 4 Felony, you could serve up to 3.75 years in prison if you do not have a prior conviction.
Serial robbers face up to 16.25 years in prison for a second conviction. Two or more convictions for robbery can result in up to 25 years in state prison.
The circumstances of the crime can heighten robbery charges to a Class 3 Felony. Aggravated Robbery is a Class 3 Felony. It occurs when you have an accomplice with you when you commit the robbery.
Armed robbery is a Class 2 Felony. Armed robbery is the possession of a deadly weapon by you or an accomplice during the commission of a robbery.
For a Class 2 Felony on armed robbery, a person could serve up to 35 years if they have two or more prior convictions. You can serve up to 21 years in prison if this is your first offense of armed robbery.
It is important to remember that Arizona also recognizes aggravating circumstances during the commission of a crime. If there are aggravating circumstances present during a robbery, the penalty for a guilty verdict may increase.
Call a criminal defense lawyer immediately. You are facing serious criminal charges that could result in decades behind bars. You need an experienced defense lawyer working on your case as soon as possible.
Until you talk with a lawyer, do not give the police a statement or answer any questions. Police officers and investigators can lie to you. They will lie to you if they think they can get you to incriminate yourself.
You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Exercise both of those rights.
An arrest is not a conviction. The state must prove its case to obtain a guilty verdict. There could be one or more defenses available that could raise reasonable doubt in your case.
Your lawyer investigates the allegations against you, and analyzes the evidence the state has gathered. Depending on the facts in your case, your attorney could have the charges dismissed or reduced.
If the evidence against you is strong, your lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea deal that avoids the most severe penalty for the crime. Prosecutors are often more willing to negotiate with a criminal defense lawyer who they know has a reputation for taking matters to court than with a suspect representing himself.
Until you have spoken with an attorney, you do not know for sure whether you should plead guilty or fight the charges. Try not to panic and give away any information. Remain calm and wait to talk with your lawyer.
For more information, contact the criminal defense attorney Craig Orent. Give us a call at (480) 656-7301 or visit our law office at 11811 N Tatum Blvd UNIT 3031, Phoenix, AZ 85028. We offer a free case evaluation, so get the help you deserve today.
