Howard County Burglary Lawyer

In Howard County, burglary charge can have last effects that can lead to a long amount of jail time. An experienced lawyer can help throughout a case in analyzing and building a defense. Contacting a local Howard County burglary lawyer is important to do immediately after a charge of burglary.

Unique Aspects of Burglary

Burglary is treated very seriously in Howard County mainly because when a person enters into the privacy or the sanctity of someone’s home, they are compromising the security and safety felt every single day. The home is a sacred place where everyone needs to feel safe, and when someone compromises that, it is a whole different level of criminal mind, offense, and severity.

Depending on the nature of the offense, the prosecution has to prove that the person entered the property of another. If it is a higher-level burglary, they have to show that there was intent to commit a crime or a certain type of crime offered by the person breaking in. A Howard County burglary lawyer can walk someone through all of the various aspects of one’s case.

Degrees of Burglary

If charged with burglary, there are four different levels. However, no matter which degree charged with, consulting with a Howard County burglary lawyer is important.

First Degree

A first-degree burglary in is called a “home invasion,” which is basically coming in with a crime of violence. This charge carries up to 20 years’ incarceration, but a home invasion carries up to 25 years. This is also considered a felony.

Second Degree

Burglary in the second degree is similar to first-degree but there is also a crime of violence, arson, and things of that nature. It carries up to 15 years’ incarceration and is a felony.

Third Degree

Burglary in the third degree is when you break into someone’s home and take property. In a third-degree charge, there is no act of violence committed and is a misdemeanor. The third-degree burglary carries up to 10 years’ incarceration.

Fourth Degree

This charge of burglary is breaking into another’s home or property when you are not supposed to be there. It is a glorified trespassing charge and is considered a misdemeanor. This charge can lead up to three years maximum.

Burglary vs. Trespassing

Trespassing is entering a property or a yard. It could be just an area where the person has no private property, they have been told they are not allowed to be there. That is a trespass.

But if one adds in the fact that they are going into a residence or a building, then it becomes a fourth-degree burglary, but the reason it is a little bit more serious of a charge than a misdemeanor is the fact that it is a residence as opposed to just onto property or land.

Contact a Howard County Burglary Lawyer

Burglary is a serious charge that carries numerous years of incarceration. Having a Howard County burglary lawyer through a case is very important to help someone craft and put together a defense. A local lawyer will also know how to approach the prosecution and judge during a trial. Please contact an experienced Howard County burglary lawyer if you are facing a burglary charge.