Burglary is one of many crimes that is often misunderstood or confused with other crimes. Commonly associated with theft or robbery, burglary is a distinct offense. It is a felony; a conviction can lead to severe penalties, including prison time, steep fines, and a permanent criminal record.
Time is of the essence in criminal cases. Fighting a burglary charge can be an uphill battle if you do not have a legal background. The stakes are high, and you need a Reno burglary lawyer like John Arrascada on your side. It is best to work with a respected theft attorney with years of experience zealously advocating for clients just like you.
Burglary is a class B felony. This crime can often accompany other charges, like armed robbery or felony battery. For someone to be found guilty of burglary in Nevada, the prosecution must prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt. First, a person entered any area, including a home, apartment, room, business, structure, or vehicle. Second, at the time of entry, the individual had the intent to commit larceny, grand larceny, assault, battery, or any other felony, or to obtain money or property by false pretenses.
Both entry and intent are essential parts of the charge. Even if a forced entry, otherwise known as breaking and entering, does not happen, a person can be guilty of burglary. It does not matter if the act happened during the day or at night. If convicted, an individual faces one to ten years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. If a deadly weapon was used during the burglary, then the accused faces two to fifteen years in jail. A Reno burglary lawyer knows how to successfully disprove these elements.
One strategy for beating an accusation of burglary involves attacking weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Always keep in mind that the prosecuting attorney must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Since intent and consent are major elements of this crime, they are also major defenses. If there was a lack of intent or the property owner consented to your presence, you cannot be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is also true if it was your own property.
In addition, a burglary lawyer in Reno may be able to argue that someone else committed the crime, not you. You may have been wrongly identified or have an alibi with a witness who can testify that you were somewhere else.
Every case will require an in-depth analysis to determine the most appropriate defense. John Arrascada can be an aggressive advocate for your rights.
You must take any criminal accusations seriously because they can forever affect the trajectory of your life. A conviction remains a part of your criminal record long after you have complied with the court-ordered sentence. John Arrascada is a skilled Reno burglary lawyer who can negotiate your charge down to a misdemeanor or get it dismissed completely. Call the Law Offices of John Arrascada today.
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