Robbery Defense Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga

Defending Penal Code 211 Charges With 25+ Years of Criminal Defense Experience

A robbery charge carries felony consequences that can follow you for the rest of your life. At The Law Offices of Kirk Tarman & Associates, every case is personally overseen by lead attorney Kirk Tarman, who brings more than 25 years of criminal defense experience across Southern California, including San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties. Our main office is in Rancho Cucamonga, and we’ve handled thousands of criminal defense cases across the region.

Facing a robbery charge doesn’t mean a conviction is inevitable. Call us at (909) 658-7341 to schedule a free consultation and find out where your case stands.

What Makes a Taking of Property a Robbery Under California Law

California Penal Code 211 defines robbery as the felonious taking of personal property from another person’s presence, against their will, accomplished by force or fear. That last element is what separates a robbery charge from theft. Without force or fear, the same act is prosecuted as a property crime. With it, prosecutors can pursue a violent felony charge carrying years in state prison.

Penal Code 212 defines fear as fear of unlawful injury to the victim, their property, a relative, or anyone in their company at the time of the alleged offense. Because robbery requires direct confrontation with a victim, it’s treated as a violent felony rather than a property crime like burglary. The force-or-fear element is typically the central factual question in these cases, and it’s where a defense often has the most room to work.

Robbery Degrees & Sentencing in California

Under Penal Code 212.5, robbery is divided into two degrees. First-degree robbery applies when the victim is a driver or passenger of a bus, taxi, cable car, subway, or similar transit vehicle, when the crime occurs inside an inhabited dwelling, vessel, or trailer, or when it happens during or immediately after a victim’s use of an ATM. Every other robbery is charged as second-degree. Robbery is not charged as a misdemeanor in California. It’s a felony, classified as both a violent felony and a serious felony under state law, which means it counts as a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law.

Sentencing ranges under Penal Code 213:

• First-degree robbery: Three, four, or six years in state prison, increasing to three, six, or nine years if committed in concert with two or more people inside an inhabited dwelling
• Second-degree robbery: Two, three, or five years in state prison
• Firearm and great bodily injury enhancements: Additional prison time stacked on top of the base sentence

California’s statute of limitations generally gives prosecutors three years from the date of the alleged offense to file a robbery charge. That window matters when an arrest comes well after the incident.

How We Build a Robbery Defense

Our approach starts with an independent investigation into the facts. We review how evidence was gathered and whether law enforcement followed proper legal procedures during the arrest and investigation. Evidence obtained through an unlawful search or seizure may be suppressible, which can significantly affect what the prosecution has to work with.

We also assess whether the charge itself holds up under scrutiny. Common defenses to a Penal Code 211 charge include mistaken identity, insufficient evidence of force or fear, and lack of intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. If the evidence supports it, we negotiate with prosecutors for reduced charges or a more favorable resolution. When a case goes to trial, Kirk Tarman argues directly before the judge and jury.

The Court Handling Rancho Cucamonga Robbery Cases

Felony robbery charges arising in Rancho Cucamonga are handled in the Rancho Cucamonga District of the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Our office is in Rancho Cucamonga, and we appear regularly in this courthouse. That familiarity with local procedures is something we put to work from arraignment and bail through every stage of the case.

The Law Offices of Kirk Tarman & Associates has been named a Top Three Criminal Defense Attorney in Rancho Cucamonga by Three Best Rated and recognized among the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Rancho Cucamonga by Expertise.com. Our team speaks Spanish.

Get a Free Consultation for Your Robbery Charge

The sooner you have an attorney reviewing your case, the more options you’re likely to have. We offer free consultations, payment plan options, and transparent flat-fee pricing so cost doesn’t stand between you and a strong defense.

Call (909) 658-7341 to speak with our team today.