Robbery Defense Attorney in Brooksville

Former Hernando County Prosecutor Now Defending Robbery Charges

A robbery charge is one of the most serious felonies Florida prosecutors pursue. Before the ink dries on your arrest report, the Hernando County State Attorney’s Office has already started its clock. I’m Michael Conageski, and I spent seven years at that office prosecuting robbery and burglary cases in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. I know how those decisions get made, who makes them, and when they’re made. That knowledge now works in your defense.

After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, I moved to private criminal defense. With more than a decade of criminal law experience, I represent people accused of serious charges throughout Hernando County. If you’ve been arrested for robbery in Brooksville or anywhere in Hernando County, the window to influence this case is open right now. It won’t stay open.

Call (352) 292-0822 today for a free initial case review. Payment plans are available. Don’t let the State Attorney’s Office make its filing decision before your attorney is in the picture.

Florida Robbery Charges & Penalties

Florida law covers several distinct robbery offenses, each carrying different penalties based on how the crime is alleged to have occurred and what was used. Understanding which charge you’re facing matters immediately, because the difference between a second-degree felony and a life sentence can come down to whether a weapon was present.

• Robbery (Fla. Stat. § 812.13): Taking property from another person using force, violence, assault, or fear. Generally a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If a weapon was carried, it escalates to a first-degree felony. If a firearm or other deadly weapon was carried, it becomes punishable by up to life in prison.
• Robbery by Sudden Snatching (Fla. Stat. § 812.131): Occurs when the victim is aware of the taking. A third-degree felony carrying up to 5 years in prison. If a firearm or deadly weapon is involved, it escalates to a second-degree felony with up to 20 years.
• Home Invasion Robbery (Fla. Stat. § 812.135): A first-degree felony carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
• Carjacking: A first-degree felony under Florida law. If a firearm or other deadly weapon is carried, it is punishable by up to life in prison; without a weapon, the maximum is 30 years.

Florida’s sentencing scoresheet assigns points based on offense severity and prior record. Once certain thresholds are crossed, prison time becomes presumptive rather than discretionary. For anyone with prior violent felony convictions, Florida’s habitual offender provisions can heighten penalties further, and Florida’s Three Strikes Law compounds those consequences on a third violent felony conviction.

What the State Must Prove to Convict You

Under Florida Statute § 812.13, the prosecution must establish four elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Each one is a point where the defense can apply pressure.

• Taking: The defendant took money or property from the person or custody of the victim. The property doesn’t have to belong to the victim, only be in their custody.
• Force or Fear: Force, violence, assault, or putting in fear was used in the course of the taking. Critically, force must occur during the taking itself. If property was taken as an afterthought to a separate use of force, the charge may be reduced to theft rather than robbery.
• Value: The property taken had some value. This element is rarely contested, but the state must still prove it.
• Intent: The taking was intended to permanently or temporarily deprive the victim of the property. Intent is typically inferred from circumstances and behavior, which makes it one of the more contestable elements.

Florida courts don’t require proof that the victim physically resisted. If the circumstances were such as would ordinarily induce fear in a reasonable person, that satisfies the fear element. Knowing exactly where that line falls in practice is something I learned firsthand during seven years of prosecuting these cases.

Defense Strategies in Hernando County Robbery Cases

Every robbery case has facts that can be challenged. The right strategy depends on the specific allegations, the evidence, and what the State Attorney’s Office actually has. As a former prosecutor for the Fifth Circuit, I know the file-or-decline decisions those prosecutors face and what gives them pause.

Common defense approaches include:

• Mistaken Identification: The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the person who committed the crime. Eyewitness testimony is frequently unreliable, and challenging identification is one of the effective defenses available.
• Lack of Force or Intent: If the force element doesn’t hold up, the charge may not survive as robbery. Where intent can’t be established, the state’s case can weaken significantly.
• Suppression of Evidence: Evidence obtained through an unlawful search or seizure can be excluded. Removing critical proof from the state’s case can change what charges are viable and what plea offers are realistic.
• Early Intervention: There is a known procedural window after a felony arrest during which the State Attorney’s Office decides whether to formally file charges. Getting an attorney engaged before that decision is made offers an opportunity to influence whether charges are filed, reduced, or declined.

My relationships with the judges and prosecutors in Hernando County, built over years of working in those same courts, inform how I approach each case. I know what these prosecutors look for and where their cases can be weakest.

What Happens After a Robbery Arrest in Hernando County

After an arrest by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office or the Brooksville Police Department, a defendant is typically booked and brought before a judge within 24 hours for an initial appearance. Because robbery is a felony, the case is handled in Circuit Court at the Hernando County Courthouse in Brooksville. Arraignment follows the filing decision, where you enter a plea and the case moves into pretrial proceedings.

I’ve worked in Hernando County’s courts as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney for over a decade. That familiarity with how Circuit Court functions here, and with the people who run it, shapes the strategic decisions I make for my clients.

Talk to a Robbery Defense Attorney in Brooksville Today

If you or someone you know is facing a robbery charge in Hernando County, the time to act is now. A free initial case review is available, and payment plans are offered so cost isn’t a barrier to getting experienced representation when it matters most.

Call Conageski Law at (352) 292-0822 today. The sooner I’m in the picture, the more options may be available.