Burglary Defense Attorney
If you illegally enter a house, business or another structure intending to commit a crime, you could be facing burglary charges. Trespassing onto another’s property in order to commit a crime such as theft, rape, kidnap, or any other crime is a very serious charge and is treated by Virginia as such. This serious crime requires the attention of a skilled attorney in order to properly defend you against these charges. Without such an attorney, you could be facing a serious threat to your liberty.
Entering through an unlocked door intending to commit a crime can elicit the same burglary charges as if you broke a window or lock to gain entry. While some may think “breaking and entering” may mean literally breaking a window or breaking down a door. In reality, any type of force to enter a home, including pushing open a door, can result in charges of breaking and entering.
Burglary differs from robbery because no physical force against a person is used in burglary and it does not necessarily have to involve taking of property. If you are convicted of burglary, you may be guilty of a class 3 felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. If a deadly weapon was utilized during the burglary, you may be guilty of a class 2 felony, punishable by prison time and a fine of up to $100,000.
There are some defenses to burglary which may be pursued depending on the specific facts of your case. The “true owner” defense or “erroneous takings rule” can be used if you are retrieving property that rightfully belongs to you. If you can prove to a jury that you were the rightful owner and you were taking back property of which you were wrongfully deprived, you may have a defense for burglary. This defense still could lead to larceny charges, so an attorney should be contacted immediately to begin formulating a defense.
Our attorneys will explore any and all defenses available under the law to prevent conviction. A burglary charge requires a knowledgeable team of experienced attorney who know how to fight the charges and will work tirelessly to get you the best outcome possible for your particular case.
If you are facing burglary charges, you want the best legal representation to fight for you. Contact The Law Offices of Patrick N. Anderson and Associates. With 34 years of successfully representing all types of criminal cases in Virginia, we are one of Virginia’s largest and leading criminal law firms. We treat you as part of our family and will make sure you get the representation you deserve.