Have you been charged with burglary? Choose an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney. Choose O’Brien Law Boston.
If you have been charged with burglary, you should call an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. Burglary is a very serious theft crime, and you are facing severe punishments (possibly life in prison for armed burglary and up to 20 years for unarmed burglary).
You need to speak with an attorney like Francis T. O’Brien Jr. of O’Brien Law Boston. Attorney O’Brien has more than 20 years of experience in criminal law, and he will provide you with the aggressive and smart defense that you so desperately need. Not only does he have expertise in the field, but he is committed to his clients and gives them the personal attention that they might not get from an overworked public defender. As soon as you call Attorney O’Brien, he will start working with you to build your defense.
Burglary: Understanding the Charge
Burglary, also known as breaking and entering or housebreaking, is, in its most basic form, a crime which involves illegal entry into a building with the intent to commit an offence. This offence is most commonly theft. In Massachusetts, the definition of burglary is much more specific. You can find the statutory definition of burglary in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Sections 14 (armed) and 15 (unarmed). The statutes preserve the common law definition of burglary, which is:
- Breaking (even opening an unlocked door is considered breaking, although entering through an open door is not);
- And entering (any part of your person went inside the building);
- A dwelling house (a place where a person regularly sleeps, but even an unoccupied place with no furniture can be considered a dwelling house);
- In the nighttime (the time between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise);
- With the intent to commit a felony.
Additionally, certain acts that don’t have all of the elements of common law burglary listed above still come under the statute. For example, breaking and entering into a place that isn’t a dwelling house in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony is a crime by statute. In the courts, burglary can be treated as either a misdemeanor or a felony. This is dependent on the particular case at hand, and is impacted by the time of day the burglary occurred, whether anybody was injured, the type of building that was broken into, and the value of any property that was stolen.
Sentences in burglary cases can vary tremendously, and range from probation to years worth of jail time. If you entered the dwelling armed with a deadly weapon or assaulted an occupant of the dwelling, the sentence can be as severe as life in prison.
Speak With A Boston Criminal Defense Lawyer Today 617-512-0939
To speak with one of Boston’s best Theft Crimes Lawyers, click here or call Francis T. O’Brien Jr. at Parker | Scheer LLP twenty-four hours, seven days a week toll free at 617-512-0939. There is no fee charged to discuss your case, and all information furnished will be kept strictly confidential.