Former Mayoral Candidate Facing Federal Armed Robbery Charges
A former Tallahassee mayoral candidate is facing federal armed robbery charges after allegedly holding up a Dollar General. The suspect was arrested in May 2024. Police say he robbed the Dollar General on West Brevard Street and then fled out the back door disguised as an employee.
The former mayoral candidate is now facing federal charges for the robbery and for possessing a gun despite having prior felony convictions.
Tallahassee Police say that the suspect ran from the store with his hands up claiming to be an employee of Dollar General. The suspect had forced an employee to hand over their shirt and nametag at gunpoint.
Federal armed robbery charges
Robbery is loosely defined as depriving another person of their money or belongings by force. Armed robbery requires the use of a weapon. Depending on where the offense occurred, it can be charged as either a state or a federal crime. Generally, however, those who commit armed robbery face charges brought forth by state prosecutors. In this case, the defendant is facing federal charges likely because he was a former mayoral candidate.
In a typical federal armed robbery prosecution, the defendant would have been required to cross state lines, commit the crime on federal property, commit the crime against federal officers, or somehow be involved with immigration or customs issues. In other words, robbery becomes a federal crime when it takes place in a particular location or against a particular person.
The federal crime of armed robbery is a felony offense. If a dangerous weapon was used during the commission of the crime, then the length of the sentence can be extended up to 5 years.
Elements of federal armed robbery charges
For prosecutors to prove that you have committed the federal crime of armed robbery, they must establish each element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. The elements include:
- Taking property from another person,
- Without their consent,
- With the intention of depriving them of their property,
- By using violence or intimidation,
- While carrying a dangerous weapon
The crime of robbery begins when a defendant takes and actually carries away the personal property of another person or business without their consent. This includes items that are in their presence or close to them and within their control. The victim doesn’t necessarily need to own the item for the crime to be considered robbery. The item must simply be in their possession or presence for it to be considered robbery.
The second element, using violence or intimidation, requires the use of violence or intimidation to effectuate the robbery. Other statutes cover theft crimes that do not use violence or intimidation. Robbery is considered worse than these crimes and has harsher penalties, especially when a dangerous weapon is involved, as was the case for the aforementioned defendant.
Talk to a Tallahassee Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Luke Newman, P.A. represents the interests of Tallahassee residents who are facing criminal charges. Call our Tallahassee criminal defense attorneys today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.
Source:
wctv.tv/2024/09/19/former-tallahassee-mayoral-candidate-whitfield-leland-now-facing-federal-charges/
