Burglary in Pennsylvania is a serious offense. It is not something that an accused person should deal with alone. The repercussions are so severe that a convicted person can spend a large portion of his or her life behind bars. The following is some information on burglary crimes in the state of Pennsylvania. The information intends to explain the difference between burglary and similar crimes. It also intends to give a person a firm understanding of the penalties involved with a conviction for this crime:
The Crime of Burglary in Pennsylvania
The crime of burglary involves entering a structure with the intent to perform a crime within the structure. The structure can be a home, store, office, barn, shed, or any other structure. The person who enters the property does not have to successfully commit a criminal act inside of it to be accused or convicted of burglary. The individual only has to have the intent to do such. Furthermore, the burglar is being accused of entering a property without the right to access it.
Burglary vs. Robbery vs. Theft
Many people get confused about burglary, robbery, and theft. Burglars usually have the crime of robbery or theft in mind when they enter forbidden properties, but the three crimes differ greatly. Robbery is the violent act of taking property from another person through scare tactics or force. Theft involves depriving a person of his or her property in either a straightforward or deceitful manner. A burglar does not have to take anything to receive an accusation or conviction of the crime. The punishment for such a crime is harsh, even if the burglar does not touch one item in the dwelling.
The Penalty for Committing Burglary in Pennsylvania
The penalty for burglary depends on the situation and circumstances of the crime. First, the authorities will determine whether the property is a dwelling or someone’s home. If the property is not a person’s home, then the penalty is lighter but still heavy. It is a 2nd-degree felony in that case, and the offender may face up to 10 years in prison without reliable counsel. If the burglary involved a person’s home, and people were in it when it occurred, then the penalty is stiff. The crime is a 1st-degree felony at that point, and the person must face a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Defenses for Burglary
An accused person can fight a burglary charge with appropriate counsel. The attorney can take several angles to defend the person. First, the attorney can challenge the prosecution to prove the intent of the burglar to perform a criminal act. If the prosecution cannot prove ill intent, then the judge may have to rule an acquittal. If the defense can prove that the individual had an assumed right to be on the property, then the judge must rule an acquittal.
Contacting a Philadelphia Criminal Attorney
The Fishman Firm is a Philadelphia law office that defends crimes such as burglary and other offenses. You can contact our criminal attorney if you have been charged with burglary in Philadelphia. the faster you contact our firm, the faster an experienced attorney can get to work on your case.