What is typically required for a charge of "robbery" to be upgraded to "aggravated robbery"?

For a charge of robbery to be elevated to aggravated robbery, the presence of a weapon is a critical factor. Aggravated robbery is typically defined by the use or display of a deadly weapon during the commission of the crime, which increases the seriousness of the offense. When a weapon is involved, it elevates the potential danger to the victim and increases the level of intimidation, making the crime more severe in the eyes of the law.

While other factors, such as injury to the victim or the age of the victim, can add complexities to a case, they do not universally define aggravated robbery in legal terms. The use of force is also an integral part of the definition of robbery itself, but its presence alone without a weapon does not warrant the aggravated designation. Thus, the presence of a weapon is the key element that fundamentally distinguishes aggravated robbery from standard robbery.