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Ventura Burglary Crimes Attorney
Santa Barbara Theft Crime Defense Lawyer
At the Law Office of Christopher P. Welch, we have helped past clients defeat burglary charges. Backed by over 10 years of experience, our Ventura burglary lawyer is skilled at finding flaws in the prosecution’s case and helping defendants tell their side of the story.
Contact (805) 467-6542 today to discuss your case with our aggressive theft crime attorney.
Understanding Burglary Charges & Their Consequences
According to California law, a burglary occurs when an individual enters any structure or locked vehicle with the intent to steal another’s property or commit a felony. The person can be charged with burglary even if the intended crime is never carried out.
Burglary charges are divided into two main categories: first-degree and second-degree. First-degree burglary involves someone else’s residence and is always charged as a felony. Second-degree is burglary committed in any other type of structure, like stores or businesses, and is a wobbler offense. That means it can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor.
The potential penalties for burglary include:
- Felony first-degree: 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison, a maximum fine of $10,000, and felony probation
- Felony second-degree: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail, a maximum fine of $10,000, and felony probation
- Misdemeanor second-degree: up to 1 year in county jail, a maximum fine of $1,000, and summary probation
Defining “Entering” a Structure in Burglary
Because burglary involves “entering” a building or structure, it is important to understand what such conduct means. In the eyes of the law, all buildings have outer boundaries, including doors, walls, windows, balconies, etc. If any part of your body or an object that is in your control penetrates that outer boundary, you have entered the building.
Consider the following examples:
- An individual reaches through an open window of a house and steals a wallet that the owner left on the windowsill
- A person uses a ladder to get to the second story of a house and climbs over the railing to access the balcony
- Someone removes a window screen to attempt to open a window but is caught before opening it
In all these examples, the individuals have entered the structures. If they had an intent to commit theft or a felony (like sexual assault) upon entering the building, they could be charged with burglary.
Effective Strategies to Defend Against Burglary Charges
The legal team at the Law Office of Christopher P. Welch has won over one hundred case dismissals. We have experience crafting strategic cases based on a range of legal defenses.
Common legal defenses to burglary we employ include:
- Lack of intent
- Mistake of fact
- False accusation
- Misleading evidence
- Mistaken identity
- Police misconduct
To find out which defense tactic may be effective for your case, get in touch with our Ventura burglary attorney for a free consultation. During this meeting, we can evaluate your situation and help you determine a path forward.
Consult with our experienced criminal defense lawyer today by calling (805) 467-6542 or contacting us online.
Our Verdicts Speak for Themselves
See Our Winning Case Results
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Case Dismissed Assault With a Deadly Weapon
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Case Dismissed Attempted Rape
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Case Dismissed Battery & Assault Charge
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Case Dismissed Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury
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Case Dismissed Carjacking by Gunpoint
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Case Dismissed Carjacking With Life in Prison
The Stories That Matter
See What Our Previous Clients Have to Say
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“Best Attorney You Could Ask For!”
“Being there when you need him most, hand in hand. He walks you out of the living hell that had you bound. My Guardian Angel.”- Gilbert R. -
“He Obtained Impossible Results!”
“Mr. Welch communicated with us every step of the way, making us feel comfortable in his capable hands going through the worst situations our family has faced. We are forever grateful for his help, and can not recommend him enough.”- Lynette D. -
“He Achieved Excellent Results for Me!”
“He represented us in a difficult legal matter with excellent results. Always available for questions and responds right away. We have a great trust in him which is what one needs in legal matters. Reasonable fees too!”- Anthony M. -
“Well Skilled Attorney!”
“We were more than pleased with the outcome he provided. My brother was facing a lot of years and Welch managed to get the impossible done. My brother got released on probation. Definitely recommend him.”- Stephany P. -
“The Best Choice!”
“As an Attorney, he went above and beyond the call of duty to meet my legal needs. I recommend Mr. Welch for any legal counsel 100%. Chris will always reply to your messages or any questions right away and is very courteous and personable!”- Janet O. -
“Cleared My Name”
“Mr. Welch took care of all my worries and concerns while clearing my name through all the false accusations. I was more than happy with the outcome we were awarded”- James D. -
“Above and Beyond”
“We are absolutely impressed and satisfied with the effort Chris put in to help us with our case. He literally went above and beyond more then any other public defender that we have ran into.”- Jenny T. -
“Reasonably Priced, Prompt, and Available to Answer My Questions”
“Chris represented me on a matter I was dealing with to my complete satisfaction. He was reasonably priced, prompt, and available to answer my questions. Most of all, my worry level went from 'elevated' to 'calm' during a 40-minute first consultation that I”- Lisa L.