Get Legal Support For Burglary Charges
Under Arizona law, burglary is considered a serious crime with harsh charges. Depending on the nature of the crime, you could be facing a felony and years in prison. A criminal defense attorney may be able to help you combat the charges.
If you have been charged with burglary in Arizona, then you should seek an experienced burglary lawyer for support in defending against the harshest penalties. Our Phoenix burglary lawyers at JacksonWhite are well-versed in representing clients throughout Arizona to help them avoid the harshest penalties under the law.
What is Burglary?
Burglary in Arizona is the act of illegally entering property to commit theft or a felony. Burglary commonly takes place in areas such as homes, apartments, and businesses. The charge can differ depending on the circumstances of the crime and whether violence was involved.
Although burglary is often used interchangeably with robbery, these are two separate crimes with separate charges. The act of burglary is distinct from a robbery in that a robbery involves forcefully taking something from someone. However, burglary typically refers specifically to the theft of property without force.
Under Arizona burglary laws, there are three degrees of burglary:
- Third-degree burglary – Under ARS 13-1506, third-degree burglary is the act of illegally entering a commercial building, residential yard, or vehicle with the intent to commit theft.
- Second-degree burglary – Covered by ARS 13-1507, second-degree burglary is the act of illegally entering or staying in a residential building with the intent to commit theft.
- First-degree burglary – Commonly known as “armed burglary”, first-degree burglary is described by ARS 13-1508 as breaking into a property while knowingly possessing an item that can be used as a weapon.
If you have been charged with any of these crimes, you should seek the support of an attorney as soon as possible. Through a free initial consultation, our attorneys at JacksonWhite will work to understand your charges and begin building a defense against them.
Consequences of a Burglary Conviction
A burglary charge is a serious charge and can come with harsh legal penalties, ranging from years of probation to time in prison. The potential consequences of a burglary conviction depend on the degree of the crime and other extenuating circumstances.
Consequences of a burglary conviction include the following:
- Third-degree burglary is a class 4 felony and can come with a minimum of one year in jail up to a maximum of three years.
- Second-degree burglary is a class 3 felony and can lead to penalties like two to seven years in prison.
- First-degree burglary is a class 3 felony if committed in a nonresidential structure or yard and a class 2 felony if committed in a residential structure and can come with the consequence of four to 10 years in prison.
If you have been charged with burglary in Arizona and are seeking to avoid the harshest possible penalties under the law, you should seek the support of a skilled Phoenix burglary attorney. Our attorneys at JacksonWhite will work with you to understand the circumstances around your case and determine the best path forward.
Our Process for Burglary Cases
At JacksonWhite Law, we take a compassionate approach to every case and work to build the best possible defense against a harsh prosecution team. Our criminal defense attorneys use their expertise to understand your situation and begin building a case to advocate for you.
We begin every case with an initial consultation to understand the details surrounding your case and begin building a strategy that can minimize your risk of harsh charges.
From there, we’ll take the following steps:
- Case Evaluation – After your consultation, we’ll do a thorough review of the available evidence, including police reports, witness statements, and physical evidence, to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution’s case against you.
- Investigation – Our Phoenix burglary attorneys will conduct our own investigation of your case to build a strong defense, including interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and inspecting the crime scene.
- Defense Strategy Development – Based on the details of your case, we’ll help you build a defense that maximizes your chances of receiving the best possible outcome.
- Negotiation with Prosecutors – A negotiation can allow us to seek reduced charges, a favorable plea deal, or alternative sentencing options.
- Trial Preparation – If you are facing trial for your actions, we will help you prepare for your court hearing by covering your potential arguments, gathering evidence, and consulting witnesses.
- Court Representation – We will represent and advocate for you in court hearings, trials, and sentencings to seek the most favorable outcome.
- Review Outcomes and Appeal – After your sentencing, we’ll assess the outcome and determine if it was a fair sentence before preparing an appeal if appropriate.
Every case is different, so we’ll adapt our process to respond to the charges against you and build a defense based on the circumstances of your situation. To learn more about how we can support you, contact our team to set up an initial consultation.
Common Defense Strategies We Employ
When you are faced with a burglary charge, it’s crucial to have a strong defense to push back against the prosecution. Because of the harsh consequences that can come with a burglary charge, you should have a skilled Phoenix burglary lawyer on your side to help you build a defense to counter them.
At JacksonWhite, we can utilize the following defenses to potentially help you reduce your charges:
- Lack of Intent – We can argue for reduced or dropped charges by arguing that there was no intent to commit a crime in cases where something was taken due to a misunderstanding or an accident.
- Mistaken Identity – If you were wrongfully accused, our attorneys will gather evidence that your identity was mistaken and carry out this argument in court.
- Alibi – If you were not at the scene of the crime, our attorneys will search for evidence to prove that you were elsewhere and could not have committed the crime.
- Insufficient Evidence – The prosecution must be able to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime. Our defense attorneys can use a lack of evidence to build a case for dropped charges.
- Consent – If you had consent to enter a property, we can use this in your defense to combat your burglary charges.
Given the above options, the best possible defense depends on you and the circumstances of your case. Contact our team in order to learn more about the options available to you and how we may be able to support you in pushing back against your charges.
Potential Outcomes if You Hire JacksonWhite
You should never face prosecution charges alone—if you’re facing a burglary charge in Arizona, you should seek the support of an experienced attorney to maximize your chances of the best possible outcome. Our burglary attorneys at JacksonWhite have decades of combined experience in defending clients and take a careful, personalized approach to each case.
Using our defense strategies, we can help promote some of the following outcomes:
- Reduced Charges – Depending on your case, we may be able to help you reduce your charges to a less severe offense.
- Dismissal of Charges – With a strong enough defense, we may be able to argue that the charges are unjust and get them dropped entirely.
- Favorable Plea Deal – Our attorneys will negotiate with the prosecution side to seek a plea deal that coincides with less severe penalties.
- Reduced Sentencing – If you do face a conviction, we will advocate for you to receive a less severe sentence, like facing community service or classes instead of time in jail.
- Case Dismissal on Appeal – Even if you are initially convicted of committing a burglary, we will help you file an appeal to argue that the charges should be dismissed.
The potential outcomes available to you depend on the circumstances of your unique case. Through an initial consultation, we will work to understand the details of your case and begin building a defense strategy to protect you from the harshest penalties under the law.
Previous Burglary Case Results
At JacksonWhite, we have helped countless clients fight their burglary charges to promote a more positive outcome for their case. Some of the results we have promoted include reduced penalties or dropped charges altogether.
Examples of these successes include:
- In Maricopa Superior Court, we supported a client facing a juvenile third-degree burglary charge to help them avoid detention and instead face only community service and probation.
- Also in Maricopa Superior Court, we helped a client facing two counts of juvenile third-degree burglary and theft receive reduced charges, probation, and restitution.
Without the support of a skilled attorney by your side, you risk facing some of the harshest penalties under the law. With numerous successful cases under our belts, our attorneys here at JacksonWhite can build a strong defense for you in search of the best possible outcome for your case as well.
Get Experienced Legal Representation for Burglary Charges
Burglary is a serious charge in Arizona and can come with harsh penalties, including felony charges and significant jail time. Burglary charges involve first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree offenses, each coming with their own penalties and felony charges. If you are charged with burglary, it’s crucial to seek the support of a skilled Phoenix burglary lawyer.
At JacksonWhite, our lawyers have decades of experience in criminal defense cases. We take a compassionate approach to each case, working to support our clients by advocating for their rights, providing legal consultations, and offering court representation. With our team by your side, you are better positioned to fight back against your charges.
Give us a call at (480) 467-4370 to schedule an initial consultation with our Criminal Law team today so that we can help you build a defense against a prosecution seeking harsh penalties.
Meet JacksonWhite Law
We are a full-service law firm focused on Criminal Defense.
As premier defense attorneys in Arizona, we’ve helped clients go from facing criminal charges to having less severe penalties, which can then makes it easier for our clients to move on after a criminal case. Some of the outcomes and results we’ve secured include:
• Reduced charges
• Dropped charges and cases
• Lessened penalties
• Probation, fines and classes instead of jail time
At JacksonWhite, we’re focused on the road ahead – not what’s behind you. We’ll make every effort to understand your case and offer legal solutions that can allow you to move forward and minimize the negative impact on your life. We’ve helped adults and juveniles facing all types of criminal charges, from DUI and drug crimes to violent crimes related to domestic violence, assault and battery. Our experienced attorneys will combine their knowledge, guidance and skill set to work toward the best possible outcome for you and your case.
