What Makes Robbery Different From Theft in Wyoming
Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-401 says that robbery happens when someone takes something from someone else by using or threatening to use force, or by making the victim fear that they will be hurt right away. Robbery is different from theft because there is force or a threat involved, even if it’s only for a short time. A push, a threatening gesture, or an implied threat may be enough. The prosecution doesn’t have to show that the victim was hurt physically.
The difference is very important. In Wyoming, stealing something worth less than $1,000 is a misdemeanor. Robbery is a serious crime that can get you up to ten years in prison, no matter how much the stolen goods are worth. Adding a deadly weapon makes it aggravated robbery, which can get you up to 25 years in prison.
Aggravated Robbery in Wyoming
When a deadly weapon is used or shown during a robbery, or when the victim is seriously hurt, Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-402 applies to aggravated robbery. The presence of a gun, even if it is never fired or is just a replica, is usually enough to get someone charged in aggravated robbery. In Wyoming, aggravated robbery can get you up to 25 years in prison.
Defense Strategies for Robbery in Wyoming
Robbery defenses focus on the use of force or the threat of force. Was force actually used, or was a legitimate business dispute mischaracterized? We also question evidence of identification, which is often the weakest part of a robbery case. Eyewitness identification is notoriously unreliable, and surveillance footage, while compelling, often shows less than prosecutors suggest. We look at the proof for each part of the charge.
| Robbery | Aggravated Robbery | Weapon Display | Record |
| Up to 10 years | Up to 25 years | Aggravated charge | Permanent felony |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.
Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
-
OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
-
CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
-
CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
-
CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently Asked Questions About Robbery Charges in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
