Los Angeles Burglary Defense Attorney

Facing criminal charges of any kind in California can be incredibly distressing. However, whether you broke the law or have been wrongfully charged, reliable legal counsel is invaluable when you are facing prosecution in Los Angeles. The right defense attorney handling your case will make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your criminal case proceedings, potentially helping you avoid conviction.

Criminal Defense Representation for Los Angeles, CA, Burglary Cases

The Law Office of Stein & Markus offers client-focused criminal defense representation to individuals facing criminal charges related to burglary and other types of theft in the Los Angeles, CA, area. If you have been charged with first- or second-degree burglary in Los Angeles, it’s vital to exercise your constitutional right to legal counsel and secure defense representation from an attorney you can trust.

Why Do I Need a Los Angeles Burglary Defense Lawyer?

When an American citizen is charged with any criminal offense, the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution gives them the right to defense counsel. If a defendant can’t afford to hire private defense counsel or if they do not wish to incur attorneys’ fees for their defense, the court can appoint a public defender to represent them free of charge.

Most public defenders are dedicated, experienced, and hardworking attorneys who provide the best defense counsel they can to every client they represent. However, their job requires representing multiple clients simultaneously, and public defenders typically spend their days fielding issues related to many cases one after another. In addition, the nature of their work prevents them from providing any one client with much in the way of personal attention. So, while sticking with a public defender might seem like an easy way to minimize the financial toll of defending yourself against burglary charges in Los Angeles, it’s vital to recognize the difference between what you can expect from a public defender and what a private Los Angeles burglary attorney can offer.

Private criminal defense attorneys at The Law Office of Stein & Markus maintain manageable caseloads, giving them the time and flexibility to offer every client personalized defense counsel. When you choose The Law Office of Stein & Markus to represent you in a Los Angeles burglary case, you can expect aggressive representation through every stage of your case. We’ll strive for a case dismissal or acquittal if possible, and if a conviction is unavoidable, our team can help you secure a favorable plea bargain that minimizes your sentence.

What Is Burglary?

Burglary is a commonly misunderstood criminal charge that potentially qualifies as a misdemeanor or felony depending on whether the burgled building was inhabited. While burglary is a form of theft, it is distinct from other theft-related criminal charges because it involves intentionally breaking into another party’s property. Burglary is illegally entering another person’s property and stealing from the property or committing another crime. While most burglary charges pertain to breaking and entering with the intent to commit theft, it is also possible for an individual to face burglary charges if they break into a private property to commit some other crime, such as murder, sexual assault, or destruction of property.

Like most other criminal charges prosecuted in California, burglary charges follow a degree system. A defendant can face burglary in the first degree or burglary in the second degree. The only difference between these two degrees is whether the property in question was inhabited. Burglary in the first degree applies to breaking into and entering an inhabited property to commit a crime, while burglary in the second degree applies when breaking into and entering an uninhabited property to commit a crime.

It is important to note that burglary cases typically involve multiple criminal charges. For example, if a defendant broke into a home to steal the homeowner’s personal property, this would qualify as burglary in the first degree and a theft offense, the penalty for the latter hinging on the value of the property stolen. It’s also possible for a defendant to face a burglary charge even if they did not take any property or commit another crime.

When a burglary case involves multiple charges, the defendant’s potential penalty increases dramatically. The standard punishment for misdemeanor burglary in the second degree in California includes up to one year in county jail plus fines and penalty assessments. The penalty for felony burglary in the first degree includes heavier fines and up to three years in state prison. These penalties will compound with the penalties for related charges. If a defendant faces additional charges for grand theft, sexual assault, domestic violence, or violent assault, their sentence could escalate dramatically.