Examining 4 Elements Of Robbery Crimes Under Maryland Law
Robbery is a common law crime that involves unlawfully obtaining another person’s property by way of force or the threat of force. As a reminder, robbery is a felony crime under Maryland Code of Criminal Law Section 3-402. Upon conviction for this offense in Maryland, the applicable punishment includes a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.
Under Maryland Code of Criminal Law Section 3-401, robbery retains its common law definition but also:
- Includes the obtaining of a service from another person, using force or the threat of force; and
- Requires proof of an intent to withhold property permanently or under other circumstances that deprive the owner of the property.
Taken as a whole, robbery in Maryland involves using force or the threat of force to unlawfully obtain property or a service with the intent to deprive.
To illustrate what qualifies under this definition, the following sections will explore four factors to examine to determine whether a statutorily defined robbery has occurred under Maryland law: (1) Unlawfully Obtaining, (2) Property, (3) Service, and (4) Intent to Deprive.
- Unlawfully Obtaining
In the context of robbery crimes, Section 3-401 establishes the definition of unlawfully obtaining property or a service. Under this section, obtaining something in this manner refers to:
- Property C Unlawfully conducting a transfer of interest in or possession of the property in question; or
- Service C Unlawfully securing performance of a service.
- Property
For the purposes of robbery offenses, Section 3-401 defines what qualifies as property. Under this section, the term property refers to anything of value, which includes but is not limited to:
- Money;
- Real estate;
- Commercial instruments;
- Admission tickets;
- Transportation tickets;
- Things growing on, affixed to, or found on land;
- Things part of or affixed to any building;
- Electricity, gas, and water;
- Food or drink;
- Sample, culture, microorganism, or specimen;
- Wildlife typically kept in state confinement;
- Records and recordings or similar documents; or
- Written instruments concerning anything of value.
- Service
For the purposes of robbery offenses, Section 3-401 also defines what qualifies as a service. Under this section, the term service includes:
- Labor or professional services;
- Telecommunication, transportation, toll facility, or public utility services;
- Entertainment, lodging, or restaurant services; and
- Computer, data processing, or other equipment services.
- Intent to Deprive
An intent to deprive under Section 3-401 refers to the withholding of another person’s property:
- Permanently;
- For a period of time that appropriates at least part of the property’s value;
- To hold as ransom and only returned upon payment or similar compensation; or
- To dispose of the property or deal with the property in a way that makes recovery unlikely.
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For help with your case, contact the skilled Bel Air robbery attorneys at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered. We are eager to assist you today.
