Darien Burglary Lawyer

Assistance from an experienced Darien burglary lawyer can make all the difference when fighting the charges in your case. Working with a top defense lawyer who understands the details of burglary can help you to exploit every weakness in the prosecution’s arguments and help achieve a positive outcome.

What Are the Penalties for Burglary in Connecticut?

Under the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.), burglary can be charged as a Class B, C, or D felony depending on the circumstances of the specific case. In addition, simply possessing or manufacturing burglar’s tools is treated as a Class A misdemeanor. Penalties are as follows:

C.G.S. § 53a-101, First Degree Burglary, Class B felony – 1-20 years of imprisonment, fine up to $15,000
C.G.S. § 53a-102, Second Degree Burglary, Class C felony – 1-10 years of imprisonment, fine up to $10,000
C.G.S. § 53a-103, Third Degree Burglary, Class D felony – up to five years of imprisonment, fine up to $5,000
C.G.S. § 53a-104, Possession of Burglary Tools, Class A misdemeanor – up to one year of imprisonment, fine up to $2,000

A burglary lawyer in Darien may be able to argue to have your case dropped, to have your charges lessened, or to use alternative penalties.

Is Third-Degree Burglary Still Serious?

The least serious burglary crime is burglary in the third degree, which is defined at Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53a-103. You can be found guilty of third-degree burglary if you enter or stay in a building without legal authorization and have the intent to commit a crime while in the building. Don’t get misled though, while it is the least serious of burglary charges, it is still a felony charge.

Prosecutors have the burden of proving that the person accused was in the building “unlawfully,” so a Darien burglary attorney could fight the charges by showing that the presence in the building was permissible. Other defenses involve proving that the person accused had no intention of committing a criminal act or that the building was abandoned.

What Constitutes Second-Degree Burglary?

As with third-degree burglary and according to C.G.S. §53a-102, a second-degree burglary involves unlawfully entering or staying in a building with the intent to commit a crime. However, in the case of second-degree burglary, that building must be a dwelling and it must be occupied by someone other than the person accused of burglary. Sometimes, this is known as home invasion.

Accordingly, a burglary attorney could defend against charges by explaining why the building should not be considered a dwelling, or that it was not actually occupied at the time of the incident.

How Do Courts Regard First-Degree Burglary?

First degree burglary involves entering or remaining unlawfully in a building intending to commit a crime and 1) an attempt to cause or successfully causing injury to another, 2) the building they enter is a dwelling at night, or 3) the person entering is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon.

First degree burglary is a Class B felony and carries hefty jailtime, fines, and probation. Further the stigma of a felony conviction can impact your ability to gain employment and housing. Avoiding a felony conviction at all costs is therefore priority number 1.

Work with a Knowledgeable Darien Burglary Attorney