Stripper Charged in Bank Robbery

As reported by Gregory Smith in the February 10, 2016 edition of the Providence Journal, a stripper has been charged with second degree robbery following a robbery at a Cranston bank. The woman was arrested in Massachusetts and has been turned over to Rhode Island Police. She was found with nearly $500.00 in cash, which was seized by police. She works at Club Desire in Providence.

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-39-1, second degree robbery is defined as every person who shall commit robbery or other larceny from the person by force or threat, where there is no weapon and no injury and the victim is neither a severely impaired person or an elderly person, shall be guilty of second degree robbery.

(c) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Person who is severely impaired" has the same definition as provided in § 11-5-11;

(2) "Elderly person" means a person sixty (60) years of age or older.

The penalties if convicted include imprisonment for not less than five (5) years nor more than thirty (30) years, or fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

First degree robbery is defined as every person who shall commit: (1) robbery by use of a dangerous weapon; (2) robbery where a victim is injured; or (3) robbery where the victim is a person who is severely impaired or an elderly person; shall be guilty of first degree robbery. The punishment includes imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for life, or fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), or both.

In this case the woman is accused of stealing money from the bank. She did not use a weapon or cause any injury in order to steal the money so she is charged with second degree robbery.