Juvenile Armed Robbery — Adult Charges Transferred

Key Details

Case Description

Our 16-year-old client was arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping following a minor traffic accident. He and a friend were accused of forcing the other driver to accompany them to a nearby apartment complex, threatening to shoot him, and demanding $2,000. The victim paid $100 through CashApp before leaving and immediately calling 911. When police arrived, our client and his co-defendant attempted to flee, but our client eventually surrendered.

Legal Strategy

Given the overwhelming evidence of guilt, our strategy focused on mitigation and seeking a transfer to juvenile court. We gathered extensive information about our client's background, trauma history, and potential for rehabilitation. Our goal was to present a compelling case for why this young person deserved a second chance in the juvenile system rather than facing adult penalties.

Challenges

The evidence of guilt was overwhelming, and the charges carried extremely serious penalties, including a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison if tried as an adult. We had to overcome the serious nature of the charges and the flight attempt to convince the prosecutor that our client belonged in juvenile rather than adult court.