Robbery is a felony in Ohio, and the most serious forms — aggravated robbery involving a weapon — carry mandatory prison sentences that can stretch for years. A conviction means prison time, a permanent record, and consequences that extend well beyond your release. The state pursues these cases hard. You need a defense attorney who knows how to meet that pressure.
Moran & Fisher, Attorneys at Law, LLC defends clients charged with robbery and aggravated robbery throughout Cuyahoga County and across Northeast Ohio. Our attorneys have tried felony cases in these courts for decades and know what a real defense looks like.
The Robbery Charges We Defend
Ohio law distinguishes between robbery and aggravated robbery based primarily on the presence of a deadly weapon and the degree of harm involved:
Aggravated Robbery (O.R.C. § 2911.01) — Committing or attempting a theft offense while having a deadly weapon, brandishing a deadly weapon, or causing serious physical harm to another. A first-degree felony. Prison terms for F1 offenses in Ohio can be substantial, and some aggravated robbery charges carry mandatory prison sentences. [TODO: confirm current F1 sentencing range and mandatory minimums for attorney review]
Robbery (O.R.C. § 2911.02) — Committing or attempting a theft offense while using or threatening force, or while recklessly causing, attempting to cause, or threatening physical harm to another. A second- or third-degree felony depending on whether physical harm was involved or threatened.
Complicity and Aiding & Abetting — You can be charged with robbery even if you were not the person who used force, if the prosecution alleges you knowingly aided, assisted, or conspired in the offense.
What's at Stake
A robbery conviction carries prison time measured in years, not months. Aggravated robbery as a first-degree felony can result in a decade or more of incarceration. Beyond prison, you face a permanent felony record that affects employment, housing, and civil rights — including the right to vote and the right to own a firearm. If a weapon was involved, federal charges may also apply.
How Moran & Fisher Defends Robbery Cases
Robbery cases typically hinge on eyewitness identification, video surveillance, and physical evidence. Each of these is fallible, and we scrutinize all of it:
Identification challenges. Eyewitness misidentification is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. We examine how the identification was made — lineup procedure, lighting and distance, witness reliability, and the influence of suggestion by police.
Motions to suppress. Attorney Moran has significant experience writing and successfully arguing motions to suppress evidence obtained through wrongful police conduct. In robbery cases, this often applies to evidence gathered during traffic stops, searches, or arrests that may not have met constitutional standards.
Examining the full picture. We look at the timeline, the alleged victim's account, and whether the evidence actually supports the charge as filed. Overcharging — filing more serious charges than the facts warrant — is common, and we challenge it directly.
Trial-tested defense. With over 100 jury trials and over 300 bench trials of combined experience, our attorneys are comfortable in front of a Cuyahoga County jury. The prosecution knows this too.
Appellate backstop. Moran & Fisher has written and argued over 500 appeals, including cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. If your trial produces an unjust result, we are positioned to fight for you beyond the trial court.
Why Moran & Fisher
When you are facing a felony robbery charge, the quality and experience of your defense attorney matters greatly. Moran & Fisher is a boutique practice — your case is handled by a partner, not delegated. Attorney Moran is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell (peer and judicial rating) and is widely recognized among Cleveland lawyers as one of the city's most respected courthouse defense attorneys.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.