Robbery in Arizona: ARS 13-1902

Posted on January 23, 2026 in Assault & Violent Crimes

Under Arizona law, robbery can take different forms, including armed robbery and aggravated robbery. In this post, we focus on the basic offense of robbery, as it is defined under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-1902.

While theft and robbery involve taking someone else’s property without that person’s permission, an important difference between these two offenses is that robbery involves taking something from the victim directly in their presence with some kind of threat or force to coerce someone to surrender property.

If you have been accused of any kind of robbery charges in Arizona, call AZ Defenders at (480) 456-6400 to speak with one of our experienced Arizona criminal defense attorneys. You can also reach us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our criminal defense lawyers.

How Does Arizona Law Define Robbery?

ARS 13-1902 is a brief statute. Here it is in its entirety:

Robbery; classification

A. A person commits robbery if in the course of taking any property of another from his person or immediate presence and against his will, such person threatens or uses force against any person with intent either to coerce surrender of property or to prevent resistance to such person taking or retaining property.

B. Robbery is a class 4 felony.

As we state in our introduction above, unlike theft, robbery is a crime that cannot go unnoticed by the victim at the time of its commission. 

The robber is taking something from the victim’s person, such as a wallet, purse, or watch, or is taking some other item of the victim’s property while the victim is present to see it, as might happen in a home invasion robbery. 

Important Robbery Definitions

ARS 13-1902 contains some specific legal terms that are defined in ARS 13-1901. These include:

• Force: Force involves any physical act directed against a person as a means of gaining control of property. It is not necessary that force be used against the person whose property is being taken; it can be used against any person.
  
• In the course of committing: This includes any of the robber’s acts, beginning with the initiation of the offense and extending through the flight from the robbery.
  
• Property of another: This means property in which any person other than the robber has an interest, or on which the robber is not privileged to infringe. It includes property in which the robber has an interest, even if the victim is barred from civil recovery due to its use in an unlawful transaction or forfeiture as contraband.
  
• Property in possession of an alleged robber is not deemed to be the property of another person when that person only has a security interest in the property, even if legal title is in the creditor, pursuant to a security agreement.
  
• Threat: This means a verbal or physical menace of imminent physical injury to a person.

Three Types of Robbery in Arizona

Arizona law recognizes three kinds of robbery charges. In addition to robbery under ARS 13-1902, two additional related offenses are:

• Aggravated robbery: This is robbery committed with one or more accomplices who are actually present during the commission of the robbery.
  
• Armed robbery: This is when the robber is armed with a deadly weapon or a simulated deadly weapon, or threatens to use a dangerous instrument, or takes possession or tries to take possession of a weapon during commission of the robbery.

Can Robbery be Combined With Other Criminal Charges in Arizona?

Robbery can be a standalone charge, or in some cases, it can be combined or “stacked” with other charges. 

A common example is if robbery happens in connection with a burglary, which is a crime that involves entering onto or into the property of another with the intent to commit a felony or theft. In this event, the prosecution will often charge you with both burglary and robbery.

Another possible example of a stackable offense is assault, which can mean putting another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury. Threatening another person with the use of force during the commission of a robbery could result in charges for both robbery and assault.

Penalties for Robbery in Arizona

A conviction for robbery is a Class 4 felony under Arizona law. The potential punishments for robbery depend on how many “historical prior felony convictions” you have.

• No “historical prior felony convictions”: From 1 to 3.75 years in prison. A first offense may be probation eligible.
  
• One “historical prior felony conviction”: 2.25 to 7.5 years in prison.
  
• Two or more “historical prior felony convictions”: 6 to 15 years in prison.

The actual sentence will be determined based on any aggravating and mitigating circumstances unique to each case.

A felony conviction for robbery can also carry a fine of up to $150,000, a restitution requirement to the victim, and possibly additional expenses like court costs.

Moreover, a felony conviction on your record can have significant additional consequences for you. These include the possible loss of certain rights, such as your right to vote, serve on a jury, possess a firearm, or join the armed forces of the United States. A felony can make it more difficult to secure employment and find a place to live.

Potential Defenses to a Robbery Charge

In a robbery trial, the prosecution must prove all of the elements of a robbery charge beyond a reasonable doubt. So, if you can cast reasonable doubt on any element of the charge, you can possibly be acquitted of the crime or at least have it reduced to a lesser charge.

For example, in a stacked prosecution of robbery and assault, if you can cast reasonable doubt on whether you intended to take the victim’s property but still threatened the victim with the use of force, this can mean that you are only subject to an assault charge.

Other possible defenses to a charge of robbery can include:

• The property being taken was yours and not the victim’s.
  
• You did not act with a state of mind sufficient to constitute intent to commit robbery.
  
• You did not use force when taking another’s property, like a pickpocketing crime or taking an item of property in the victim’s presence and running away with it.
  
• You have been mistakenly identified as the robber, such as in a case where the robber wore a mask.
  
• The police lacked grounds to reasonably suspect you of committing the robbery or probable cause to arrest you for the offense.
  
• The police violated your constitutional rights in the course of their investigation, arrest, custodial interrogation, or maintaining the chain of custody of evidence gathered against you.

Have You Been Charged With Robbery in Arizona?

Arizona’s criminal code makes robbery a serious charge with very serious consequences. You may face years of prison time, up to a six-figure fine, additional costs, a criminal record, and curtailment of some of your civil rights if you are found guilty of robbery.

Due to the potentially severe penalties associated with a robbery conviction, it is crucial to have premium legal representation in plea negotiations or in trial. This is what you will get when you retain AZ Defenders as your legal counsel.

Our criminal law defense attorneys have over a hundred and fifty years of combined experience defending clients against felony-level prosecutions, including robbery charges. We have a proven track record of winning cases and are known as some of the most aggressive criminal defense law firms in Arizona. 

Give us a call today at (480) 456-6400 or use our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation.