subject: South Carolina Strong Armed Robbery [print this page] In South Carolina Strong Armed Robbery is considered a felony, and is punishable by up to fifteen years in the Department of Corrections. It is classified as a violent crime. Strong Armed Robbery is the taking, by force or intimidation, of property from a person or immediately around the person. The property must be taken without consent.
Strong Armed Robbery differs from larceny in that it involves force, or the threat of force. For example if a man leaves a package unattended in a shopping mall and it is stolen, this will be an ordinary larceny. If however the man is carrying the box and is commanded by the thief to hand the box over "or else" or if the box is forcibly ripped from his hands while being pushed down this would be a Strong Armed Robbery.
There are some circumstances where if an item is quickly taken from another's possession, without the creation or opportunity to create fear or intimidation, it may technically not be a Strong Armed Robbery but still an ordinary larceny or the specialized offense of purse snatching. For these reasons it is important to have a criminal defense lawyer review all of the specific allegations comprising a Strong Armed Robbery Charge.
Criminal charges from Strong Armed Robbery are ordinary initiated by the issuance of an arrest warrant by a Magistrate at the request of law enforcement. The cases are prosecuted in the Court of General Sessions by the Solicitor's office. Charges of Strong Armed Robbery may resolved through either some type of negotiated resolution (reduction to a lesser charge, probation, etc.), or through a contested trial.
