Norwalk Burglary Lawyer
A Norwalk burglary lawyer understands the gravity of your charges and can take decisive action to help you fight your charges. A top criminal attorney can offer a confidential review of your case and advise what the best next steps for your case may be.
How Can I Be Charged with Burglary?
Burglary involves forcing your way into a structure without the consent of the owner with the intent of engaging in a crime.
You can be arrested and charged with burglary if you enter and stay within a structure during the night while intending to engage in a criminal offense. Likewise, burglary charges may be leveled against you if you illegally entered a structure with a firearm or other weapon and intended to carry out criminal conduct.
A burglary lawyer in Norwalk can carefully examine the events that led your arrest and determine whether mistakes were made by law enforcement. For example, if the police used coercion or did not read you your full rights, such actions can be incorporated into your defense.
What Are the Penalties for First-Degree Burglary?
First-degree burglary is when someone illegally enters a structure purposing to engage in crime and has a lethal weapon, goes inside a building at night purposing to participate in a crime, or illegally enters a structure to carry out a crime and intentionally or carelessly injures someone.
Per Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 53a-101, first-degree burglary is chargeable as a Class B felony. Accordingly, the penalties for a Class B felony include anywhere from one to 20 years in jail and/or a maximum fine amount of $15,000. If the individual has a lethal weapon or a bomb with them during the burglary, the individual would be required to serve at least five years in jail.
What Are the Consequences of Burglary in the Second Degree?
Second degree burglary, per C.G.S. § 53a-102, is when the individual enters a dwelling illegally and with the purpose of engaging in criminal activities, and someone else is inside the structure. Burglary in the second degree is charged as a Class C felony, which means that a conviction would be accompanied by a maximum jail term of 10 years and/or fines no higher than $10,000. However, as stated under C.G.S. § 53a-102a, using a gun during second degree burglary is punishable by a mandatory minimum jail term of 12 months.
How Serious is Third-Degree Burglary?
Third degree burglary occurs when someone illegally enters a structure while intending to carry out a criminal offense and is a Class D felony. A Class D felony carries a sentence of up to five years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Under C.G.S. § 53a-103a, committing third-degree burglary with a gun would result in a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 12 months.
How Can I Fight a Burglary Charge?
A Norwalk burglary attorney could help the accused party launch a compelling defense to lessen or refute the charges. One common argument is that the accused is entirely innocent of their charges. The defense could also argue that the individual did not intend to engage in criminal activities after they entered the structure. A legal professional can spot weaknesses in the prosecution’s defense that may derail their allegations.
Talk with a Norwalk Burglary Attorney About Your Case
A Norwalk burglary lawyer could be a vigilant legal ally and defender against the charges you are facing. An attorney can work diligently to safeguard your rights and freedom.
Call Mark Sherman Law now to set up a confidential review of your case and discuss what can be done to defend your charges.