The Normal Police Department is searching for a suspect in the alleged robbery of a delivery driver, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
This incident occurred on Tuesday, April 26 at approximately 6 p.m. At that point, the delivery driver just dropped off a food order near Northbrook Drive and Orlando Avenue. That is when the robbery suspect approached the delivery driver.
The robbery suspect allegedly claimed to have a firearm and demanded cash from the delivery driver. After taking a small amount of cash from the delivery driver, the robbery suspect escaped the scene on foot. The delivery driver did not sustain injury as a result of this incident.
While the authorities continue to search for this robbery suspect, it seems appropriate to review robbery and aggravated robbery offenses under Illinois law.
Robbery Under Illinois Law
The Illinois laws against robbery appear at 720 ILCS 5/18-1. Under this section, a person commits robbery when they knowingly:
- Take property from the someone else’s person or presence; and
- Uses force or the threat of imminent force to complete the act.
The Illinois penalties for robbery also appear under Section 18-1. Generally speaking, robbery is charged as a Class 2 felony. A conviction for a Class 2 felony in Illinois can result in criminal fines up to $25,000 and imprisonment for three to seven years.
That being said, robbery can become a Class 1 felony, punishable as explained below. But this enhanced charge applies to robbery offenses where:
- The victim is at least 60 years old or has a physical disability; or
- The offense occurred at a daycare center, home, or facility, a school, or a place of worship.
Aggravated Robbery Under Illinois Law
The Illinois laws against aggravated robbery also appear under Section 18-1. A standard robbery offense becomes aggravated if the perpetrator:
- Indicates that they are in possession of a dangerous weapon, even if they did not have such a weapon at the time; or
- Delivers any controlled substance to the victim without medical justification, using threat, deception, or a lack of consent.
The Illinois penalties for aggravated robbery also appear under Section 18-1. Aggravated robbery is a Class 1 felony under this section. A conviction for a Class 1 felony in Illinois can result in criminal fines up to $25,000 and imprisonment for four to 15 years.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in matters of criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com or by completing an online form.