Conway Armed Robbery Defense Attorney

Are you being charged with armed robbery in Conway, AR? Our award-winning armed robbery defense lawyers in Conway, Arkansas will defend you against criminal charges and make sure your rights are protected.

Being accused of armed robbery in Conway is one of the most frightening moments a person can go through.

The charge carries the weight of a Class Y felony, the most serious felony classification in Arkansas, and the people asking you questions right now, police, investigators, maybe even family, all want answers you are not obligated to give.

A conviction can mean decades in prison with no realistic path to early release, and the State of Arkansas moves quickly once an arrest is made.

At Lemley DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyers, our team includes former prosecutors, a former law enforcement detective, and attorneys experienced in defending serious felony cases throughout Conway and Faulkner County.

Our Conway armed robbery defense attorneys know how the state builds these cases because several of us used to build them, and we know where they come apart.

You have not been convicted of anything, and what happens next depends largely on the decisions you make in the coming days.

Contact us today for a free, 24/7 case evaluation.

What Is Armed Robbery in Arkansas?

Arkansas law does not use the term “armed robbery” in its criminal statutes. The state charges robbery when someone uses or threatens physical force against another person during a theft, and elevates that to aggravated robbery when a deadly weapon is involved.

Understanding this difference matters because the penalties are vastly different, and the specific facts of your situation determine exactly what the prosecutor pursues.

What Is Aggravated Robbery under Arkansas Law?

Under Arkansas Code § 5-12-103, aggravated robbery occurs when a person commits robbery while armed with a deadly weapon, represents that they are armed, or inflicts or threatens serious bodily harm.

Critically, the weapon does not have to be real, if the alleged victim reasonably believed it was capable of causing harm, the charge applies regardless of what you actually held.

To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove every element of this charge beyond a reasonable doubt. That requirement is not just legal language, it is where your defense lives.

Penalties for Robbery and Aggravated Robbery in Arkansas

Beyond incarceration, a felony conviction means the permanent loss of your right to own a firearm and serious long-term barriers to employment and housing.

Parole Eligibility for Aggravated Robbery

How much of a sentence you would actually serve depends on when the offense occurred. Under the Protect Arkansas Act (Act 659 of 2023), aggravated robbery committed on or after January 1, 2025 carries no parole eligibility at all: the full sentence must be served with no earned-release credit.

For offenses committed before January 1, 2025, the earlier rule under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-618 still applies, requiring at least 70% of the sentence to be served before parole eligibility.

Because which rule applies can change what a sentence actually means in practice, it is one of the first things our Conway armed robbery defense lawyers determine when we take on a case.

The Firearm Enhancement under Arkansas Law

Under Ark. Code § 16-90-120, prosecutors can seek a firearm enhancement if they can prove a gun was used during the offense. That enhancement can add a consecutive prison term that is served after the underlying sentence.

We examine every case to determine whether this enhancement is legally supportable or whether it should be challenged outright.

What to Do Immediately after an Arrest in Conway

The first hours after an arrest can shape the entire outcome of your case. What you say, and what you choose not to say, matters enormously.

• Invoke your right to remain silent: Tell officers exactly this: “I am invoking my right to remain silent. I want a lawyer.” Then say nothing else to anyone, jail calls are recorded.

• Refuse consent to searches: If police ask to search your phone, car, or home, state clearly: “I do not consent to any searches.” You are not required to agree, and refusing protects critical legal rights.

• Contact us right away: Once you retain our firm, we handle all communication with law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office. You will not speak to investigators on your own.
• Preserve all evidence: Do not delete messages, call logs, or receipts. Avoid contact with the alleged victim or any witnesses, and stop all social media activity until your case is resolved.

How We Fight Aggravated Robbery Charges

A charge is not a conviction. Our criminal defense attorneys in Conway examine the state’s case from every angle, from the legality of the initial stop to the reliability of each witness, identifying every point where the prosecution’s theory falls apart.

Unlawful Stops and Search Challenges

If police stopped you without reasonable suspicion or searched your property without a valid warrant, any evidence gathered may be excluded under the Fourth Amendment. When that evidence is gone, so often is the state’s case.

Eyewitness Identification Challenges

Eyewitness testimony is one of the most unreliable forms of evidence in robbery cases, and several documented factors affect how accurately a witness identifies a suspect:

• Poor lighting, masks, or hats that partially obscured the alleged perpetrator

• The stress and chaos of the incident, which distorts memory

• Cross-racial identification errors that occur at higher rates in ambiguous situations

• Suggestive photo lineups or show-up identifications conducted without proper safeguards

When identification evidence is central to the state’s case, we challenge the procedures used and, where appropriate, bring in expert witnesses to address the limitations of that testimony before the jury.

A pattern we see repeatedly in Faulkner County robbery cases is a photo lineup assembled after the alleged victim has already seen the suspect’s photo on social media or a local news post, which can taint an identification without anyone involved realizing it happened. Pulling the full lineup file, not just the final report, is usually what exposes the problem.

Digital and Forensic Evidence Review

We analyze surveillance footage, cell tower records, GPS history, DNA analysis, and ballistics findings. Physical and digital evidence can either dismantle the prosecution’s timeline or establish your alibi, we find out which and use it.

What we see across the robbery cases we defend out of the Faulkner County Detention Center is that cell tower and GPS data get treated as more precise than they actually are.

A tower placing a phone somewhere in a several-mile radius is not the same as placing a person at a specific address, and that distinction matters when the state leans on it to fill a gap in its timeline.

Miranda Violations and Statement Suppression

If police continued questioning after you asked for a lawyer, or failed to advise you of your rights before an interrogation, any statements you made may be inadmissible. We file pretrial motions to suppress that evidence and keep it out of your trial entirely.

Alibi, Duress, and Lack of Weapon

Beyond procedural challenges, we build defenses around the specific facts of what actually happened. Depending on your situation, those defenses may include:

• You were not at the scene of the alleged robbery

• The object used was not a “deadly weapon” under Arkansas law

• No actual force or reasonable threat of force occurred

• You acted under duress or coercion by another person

• The alleged victim or a witness incorrectly identified you

Faulkner County Courts and the Local Arrest Process

After a Conway arrest, you will be booked at the Faulkner County Detention Center and held pending a bond determination. Bond is addressed at your first appearance in Conway District Court, while all felony proceedings, including any jury trial, are handled by Faulkner County Circuit Court.

Having our Conway office nearby means we appear in this courthouse regularly. We know the judges, the local prosecutors, and the procedures that govern how cases move through the Faulkner County system, knowledge that comes only from years of consistent local practice.

One pattern we consistently see in Faulkner County Circuit Court is a bond hearing moving faster than a family expects, sometimes within a day or two of booking, which leaves little time to gather the character references and employment information that can make a real difference in what conditions a judge sets.

Having someone in the courtroom for that first hearing is usually what keeps a client from spending unnecessary time in custody while the case is investigated.

Can Aggravated Robbery Charges Be Reduced or Dismissed?

Yes, and that outcome is always our primary objective. The right path depends on the evidence and the circumstances of your arrest, but we typically pursue one or more of the following:

• Pre-filing intervention: We contact the prosecutor before formal charges are filed to challenge the evidence and argue against charging you at all.

• Suppression motions: When evidence was gathered through an unlawful search or improper procedure, we move to exclude it, and without that evidence, many cases cannot proceed.

• Charge reduction: Skilled negotiation can bring charges down to robbery or even theft of property, which represents a significant reduction in potential prison exposure.

• Diversion: Eligible first-time offenders may qualify for programs that result in full dismissal upon successful completion.

• Trial: When the facts are in your favor, we take the case to a jury and fight for a not-guilty verdict.

Our firm has secured outright dismissals in serious cases involving drug trafficking, felony assault, and possession of stolen firearms.

Why Choose Lemley DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyers?

When your freedom is on the line, the experience behind your defense matters.

• Prosecutorial insight on your side: Attorney Samantha Kassen served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney before joining our defense team, and Attorney Lauren Scroggins built her early career working inside the Faulkner County and Benton County Prosecutor’s offices. Between them, they understand firsthand how the state evaluates and builds robbery cases.

• Law enforcement perspective: Attorney Josh King’s background as a detective and drug task force collaborator gives our team direct insight into how police investigations are run, and where they break down.

• Local Conway presence: We have an office in Conway, which means we are a consistent presence in the courthouse where your case will be heard, not an out-of-town firm brought in for the occasion.

• Flat-fee pricing and payment plans: You know your legal costs from day one, and flexible payment options keep quality defense within reach.

• 24/7 availability: We answer calls at any hour, including weekends and holidays, because an arrest does not wait for business hours.

Fees and Your Free Consultation

We charge a flat fee for representation, no surprise invoices and no hourly billing anxiety. Payment plans are also available so the cost of your defense does not compound the stress you are already under. Your first consultation is completely free and confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aggravated Robbery in Arkansas

Is Bond Available for an Aggravated Robbery Charge in Arkansas?

Bond is possible, but judges typically set it very high for Class Y felonies. We appear at your first hearing to advocate for a reasonable amount and workable conditions of release.

Can I Be Charged With Aggravated Robbery if Someone Else Had the Weapon?

Yes. Under Arkansas’s accomplice liability law, everyone who participates in a robbery can be charged with aggravated robbery, even if you never touched the weapon.

What Happens if the Alleged Victim Wants to Drop the Charges?

The State of Arkansas decides whether to prosecute, not the alleged victim. A victim who refuses to cooperate can seriously weaken the prosecution’s case, but the state can still proceed without their participation.

When Should I Hire a Lawyer if I Am Only under Investigation?

Right now. The investigation stage is when we can do the most, blocking coercive interviews, preserving favorable evidence, and potentially preventing formal charges from being filed at all.

How Long Do Aggravated Robbery Cases Take to Resolve in Faulkner County?

Case timelines vary depending on the volume of evidence, the number of witnesses, and whether the matter resolves through negotiation or proceeds to a jury trial.

Experienced Criminal Defense Law Firm in Conway, Arkansas

One accusation should never define the rest of your life. Our job, the way we see it, is to take you from where you are and move you toward something better, one clear step at a time. Contact us online for a free, confidential consultation, day, night, weekend, or holiday.