Florida Men with Toy Gun Arrested for Robbery, No Match for Victims With Machete
A pick-up truck and a toy gun resulted in three men from Collier County ending up in jail over the weekend, charged with robbery.
Deputies apprehended and arrested 18 year old David Lee Moya, Devon Charles and Alfredo Garcia, after they allegedly demanded money from people attending a small gathering last Saturday in Golden Gate, near Naples, Florida.
Witnesses at the gathering told deputies that the three men drove up to a home in a red pickup truck at the corner of 20th Place and 41st Street Southwest. Moya was in possession of a pistol, and the trio demanded money from people who were milling around outside the house.
Witnesses stated that the suspects then began to rummage through a vehicle parked beside the house, when one of the victims chased away the intruders with a machete. They said Moya reacted by dropping the pistol, which in the end, turned out to be a toy gun.
Not long after, witnesses reported that the trio returned and one of the men who had possessed a machete took hold of a tire iron and shattered the pickup’s windows. But not so fast, deputies stated Alfredo Garcia, the driver, used his vehicle to hit the man who was holding the tire iron. However, once deputies had arrived at the scene they arrested Garcia, Moya and Charles for armed robbery.
No-one is really sure why people want to shatter the enjoyment of others by threatening them with guns and machetes but they do and Florida’s laws rarely treat these people leniently. Armed Robbery is considered serious criminal offense in Florida. It all depends on the circumstances of the crime, but if convicted of robbery, a 30 year or more sentence in a Florida State prison is quite an easy possibility.
Typically, robbery is considered to be a violent crime and the penalties for it may depend on whether an accomplice was present, if the suspect used a weapon against the victim and whether the victim has sustained any serious bodily injuries. Generally, with robbery, the suspect probably used violence or force, so that the victim feels afraid. Once this state of fear has been established the perpetrator uses this to steal money and other possessions.
Florida criminalizes robbery with a deadly weapon, any sudden unwarned snatching, robbery with a firearm, robbery that involves a home invasion and carjacking. All categories of robbery are prosecuted as felony offenses. If you are convicted of robbery in Florida, you could be facing the following penalties: robbery classified as felony in the second degree can attract 15 years in prison; armed robbery with a weapon is a first degree felony, attracting a 30 year prison term. That’s not all a robber faces, as there are also the monetary penalties which could reach as much as $10,000.
Besides prison, in less severe circumstances, persons accused of a crime need to avoid a permanent criminal record as this can stop them from working in a legitimate position for the rest of their lives. Further, not all people accused are guilty. It’s always smart to engage the services of a seasoned criminal defense lawyer to help you navigate the troubled waters of the criminal justice system. Don’t attempt to do this by yourself or you may find yourself have a significant portion of the rest of your life to think about your decision – in a prison cell.
Increase your knowledge! If you want to know more about how to resolve the problems you face when charged with a criminal offense in Florida, then you can follow Miami Criminal Attorney Albert M. Quirantes on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
If you have any questions about this or any other criminal accusation, call Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer Albert Quirantes at: 305-644-1800 or visit our homepage www.CriminalDefendant.com for a direct link to the office or a text message or a map and directions to our office.
