BURGLARY CHARGES IN PENNSYLVANIA
If you have been charged with burglary you may be wondering what options you have in defending your rights and staying out of prison. Any degree of burglary is a felony in the State of Pennsylvania and comes with very serious consequences, upon conviction.
If you are convicted of a burglary, you will face a lengthy prison sentence, heavy fines and years of probation. A conviction will likely ruin your chances for future employment and make it very difficult to resume your normal life once you have served your sentence.
But being charged with robbery is not the same as a conviction.
Until you are proven guilty, you still have rights. That is why it is crucial to have an experienced criminal attorney by your side to fight for your rights.
_________________________________________________________
BURGLARY CHARGES DO NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE GUILTY
OR THAT YOU WILL BE CONVICTED.
CALL OR TEXT DAVID J. SHRAGER TODAY
FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: 412-969-2540.
____________________________________________________________
WHAT IS BURGLARY?
Burglary is often confused with Robbery. The truth is, the two crimes are very different. Unlike robbery, to be charged with burglary you do not have to actually commit any act of theft or threat of violence.
In order to be charged with burglary, you must simply enter a building or dwelling illegally/without permission with the intent to commit a crime. The type of building that is being entered will determine the degree of burglary for which you can be charged.
Another common misconception is that burglary has to occur at night. This is not the case. A burglary can occur at any time of the day. So long as a person enters a home or building illegally with the intent to commit a crime, they will be charged with burglary – no matter what time the incident occurs.
At Shrager Defense Attorneys, we know that good people make mistakes. We also know that many times people accused of crimes are simply not guilty. We will fight aggressively for your rights and your freedom.
Call or text David J. Shrager now at 412-969-2540 for a free consultation.
Attorney Shrager is a skilled Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer who fights hard to get his clients charges reduced or dropped altogether.
_________________________________________________________
BURGLARY CHARGES DO NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE GUILTY
OR THAT YOU WILL BE CONVICTED.
CALL OR TEXT DAVID J. SHRAGER TODAY
FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: 412-969-2540.
____________________________________________________________
BURGLARY PENALTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Burglary is either a first degree felony or a second degree felony, depending on the circumstances of your case.
- First degree burglary charges are brought against you if you illegally enter a home, or a building where people are present at the time of entry, with the intent to commit a crime.
If you are convicted of first degree burglary in the State of Pennsylvania you could face up to 20 years in prison and up to $25,000 fine.
- Second degree burglary occurs when a person illegally enters a building with the intent to commit a crime and that building is used for purposes other than a home (also defined as, “a place adapted for overnight accommodation”), AND no people were present at the time of entry.
If you are convicted of second degree burglary in the state of Pennsylvania, you could face up to 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 fine.
DEFENDING BURGLARY CHARGES
It is important to note that the law specifically states, “A person may not be convicted both for burglary and for the offense which it was his intent to commit after the burglarious entry or for an attempt to commit that offense, unless the additional offense constitutes a felony of the first or second degree.”
Therefore, if you illegally enter a home or building with theft as the intended crime, you cannot be charged with theft in addition to burglary, so long as the theft was less than a first or second degree felony.
Your case can often hinge on the intent at the outset of the illegal entry into the home or building. As you can imagine, it can be difficult for the prosecution to speak to the intent of another and a proper defense can be of the utmost importance in a burglary case.
If the prosecution cannot prove the exact crime you intended to commit upon entering the building, they do not have a case for burglary. Similarly, they have to prove that you did not have permission to enter the home or building.
An experienced Pittsburgh theft attorney can investigate and find out if there were any witnesses or come up with a probable reason for you to be entering the home or building. Our criminal attorneys are skilled in building a defensive strategy to either have your charges reduced or dropped.
_________________________________________________________
BURGLARY CHARGES DO NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE GUILTY
OR THAT YOU WILL BE CONVICTED.
CALL OR TEXT DAVID J. SHRAGER TODAY
FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: 412-969-2540.
____________________________________________________________
A Criminal Attorney Who Will Fight for Your Rights
If you have been arrested under burglary charges, or think you may be under investigation, call an experienced criminal attorney for a free consultation.
Talk to a compassionate attorney who will try to understand your situation and then help you understand your rights. Attorney Shrager will do everything possible to attack your charges and fight for your rights.
_______________________
FREE Legal Consultation
Call or Text 412-969-2540 right now for a FREE initial legal consultation.
Speak directly with David J. Shrager 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Shrager Defense Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA will attack your criminal charges in order to protect your good name. Have a sound and solid case prepared by David J. Shrager and his legal team so they can fight for your rights.
- Learn more about our Pittsburgh Theft Attorneys
- We are Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyers
- Read what our clients have to say
- Read the latest news about Shrager Defense Attorneys