Johnson City Robbery Defense Attorney

Robbery Criminal Defense in Johnson City & Washington County

Robbery is classified as a violent crime in Tennessee and prosecuted aggressively by state prosecutors. A conviction can mean years in a state prison, fines reaching tens of thousands of dollars, and collateral consequences that follow you long after your sentence ends. At Meade Law Group, we defend clients facing robbery charges throughout Johnson City and East Tennessee, drawing on over 35 years of combined trial, negotiation, and litigation experience.

If you’ve been charged or believe you’re under investigation, retaining a robbery attorney in Johnson City as early as possible can give us the best opportunity to preserve your defense options. To set up a confidential consultation, call (423) 464-7779 or contact us online using our secure form.

Understanding Robbery Charges in Tennessee

Robbery is a form of theft in which the offender uses or threatens force against a victim to take property. A robbery charge carries serious criminal penalties that can affect nearly every aspect of your life.

There are three types of robbery in Tennessee:

• Simple Robbery (TCA 39-13-401): The intentional or knowing theft of property from another person by violence or by putting that person in fear, without additional aggravating factors. This is a Class C felony.
• Aggravated Robbery (TCA 39-13-402): Robbery accomplished with a deadly weapon or by display of any article used or fashioned to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a deadly weapon, or where the victim suffers serious bodily injury. This is a Class B felony.
• Especially Aggravated Robbery (TCA 39-13-403): Robbery committed with a deadly weapon and resulting in serious bodily injury to the victim. This is a Class A felony and the most severe robbery charge in Tennessee.

All forms of robbery are charged as felony crimes in Tennessee, and none are eligible for diversion programs. A conviction at any level carries significant prison time and lasting consequences. If you’re facing any robbery charge, contact us right away.

Penalties for Robbery Convictions in Tennessee

Sentencing depends on the classification of the charge and your criminal history category, which determines whether you fall under Range I, II, or III sentencing. Prior convictions can elevate your status from standard offender to multiple, persistent, or career offender, significantly increasing the sentence a judge can impose.

The base sentencing ranges for robbery in Tennessee are:

• Simple robbery (Class C felony): 3 to 15 years in prison, fines up to $10,000
• Aggravated robbery (Class B felony): 8 to 30 years in prison, fines up to $25,000
• Especially aggravated robbery (Class A felony): 15 to 60 years in prison, fines up to $50,000

Individuals convicted of aggravated robbery must serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Beyond prison time and fines, a conviction can include court costs and restitution to the victim covering medical expenses, counseling, or property replacement. Robbery convictions can’t be expunged in Tennessee. A conviction also results in the loss of firearms rights under TCA 39-17-1307, loss of voting rights during incarceration, ineligibility for certain federal assistance programs, and barriers to professional licensing and housing.

Robbery vs. Burglary in Tennessee

Robbery requires taking property directly from a person through force or fear. Burglary, by contrast, involves unlawfully entering a structure with intent to commit a crime inside. Because robbery is a violent crime and burglary is classified as a property crime, Tennessee courts treat them very differently. The 85% mandatory service requirement applies to aggravated robbery. Burglary doesn’t carry the same mandatory minimums. Both are serious felonies, but the presence of a victim and the use of force make robbery charges significantly harder to resolve without experienced defense counsel.

Why Johnson City Defendants Choose Meade Law Group

Mac Meade, our founder and principal attorney, brings a background that directly shapes how we approach robbery criminal defense in Johnson City. Before founding Meade Law Group, he completed an internship with the Knox County District Attorney’s office, gaining firsthand insight into how state prosecutors build and present violent felony cases. After passing the Tennessee bar, he worked at the Public Defenders Community Law Office in Knoxville, where he developed direct courtroom experience defending clients against serious charges.

Mac Meade graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law and has completed the TN Criminal Defense College. He is licensed to practice in Tennessee Federal Court and has served as a multi-year board member of the TN Trial Lawyers Association. We’re familiar with Washington County General Sessions Court and the Washington County Justice Center, where felony cases originating in Johnson City begin their course through the system. We serve clients throughout Johnson City, Kingsport, and the broader East Tennessee region.

Schedule your confidential consultation today. Call (423) 464-7779 or contact us online to get started.