Haughton Burglary Defense Lawyer

Trusted Burglary Defense Attorney in Haughton, LA

You walked into a building. Maybe you had permission. Maybe the situation is more complicated than the charge makes it sound. But the paperwork says burglary, and now you are staring at a felony that can reshape how employers, landlords, and the court system see you for years.

When you’ve been accused of a crime, a Haughton burglary defense lawyer at John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm is prepared to mount a defense.

Eric G. Johnson has defended burglary cases across Bossier Parish since 1993 as an experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer. Reach out today, explain the facts of your case, and we can assess where the prosecution’s theory may be challenged.

What Is Considered Burglary in Louisiana?

Under La. R.S. 14:62, simple burglary is either of the following:

1. the unauthorized entering of any dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure, movable or immovable, or any cemetery, with the intent to commit a felony or any theft inside, or
2. the unauthorized entering of any dwelling or other structure with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner of full use or to assert any right of ownership or use of the property

That definition is broad enough to cover situations that do not look anything like what most people imagine when they hear the word.

Most people hear “burglary” and picture someone breaking a window in the middle of the night. Louisiana law sees it differently. There is no “breaking” requirement. If the State can argue you were not authorized to be there and that you intended to commit a felony or any theft once inside, the charge can be burglary.

Walking into an unlocked garage counts. Entering an ex-partner’s apartment after being told not to come back counts. Sitting in someone else’s parked car counts. The structure does not need to be locked. The entry does not need to be forced.

How Our Haughton Burglary Defense Attorneys Challenge These Charges

Because Louisiana’s burglary laws are broad, it can lead to overcharging. This could look like a simple misunderstanding about access being filed as a felony. Or being charged with burglary, even if no theft occurred and you had no intent to steal.

At John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm, our defense lawyers look at burglary cases through the lens of what the State actually has to prove, not what they chose to charge.

The most common defenses in these cases include:

• Consent or authorization to enter: If you had a reasonable belief that you were allowed to be in the structure, the unauthorized entry element fails. This comes up frequently in cases involving shared residences, family property, and domestic relationships where access was never formally revoked.
• Lack of intent: Entering a structure is not burglary without the intent to commit a felony or theft inside. If the State cannot prove what you planned to do once you walked through the door, the charge does not hold. We force prosecutors to show evidence of intent rather than letting them rely on assumption.
• Misidentification or unreliable witness testimony: Burglary cases that rely on a single witness or a neighbor’s account from a distance are vulnerable to challenge. We investigate the reliability of every identification the State plans to use.
• Constitutional violations during the investigation: If law enforcement conducted an illegal search, obtained a confession without Miranda warnings, or lacked probable cause for the arrest, the evidence that flows from those violations may be suppressed entirely.

Eric G. Johnson has tried felony property crime cases across Louisiana for 33 years, including winning a trial acquittal on armed robbery where the prosecution’s theory of criminal intent collapsed under cross-examination. He has been recognized with Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), reflecting a career built on trying cases that other attorneys turn away.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

How Louisiana Charges Escalate Based on Circumstances

The same basic act of entering a structure can result in dramatically different charges depending on three factors: whether someone was present, whether a weapon was involved, and what type of structure was entered.

The difference between unauthorized entry and aggravated burglary can come down to a single disputed fact. Whether someone was home. Whether an object in your possession qualifies as a dangerous weapon. Whether physical contact occurred during the encounter.

Each of those facts is something the State must prove, and each one is something our burglary defense lawyers in Haughton are prepared to challenge when possible.

This information reflects Louisiana law as of June 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions: Burglary Charges in Haughton

Is burglary always a felony in Louisiana?

Yes. Every degree of burglary under Louisiana law is classified as a felony. Even unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, which carries a lower maximum sentence, is still a felony conviction. A felony on your record affects employment, professional licensing, housing eligibility, and your right to possess firearms.

Can I be charged with burglary if the door was unlocked?

Yes. Louisiana’s burglary statute does not require forced entry. If the State alleges that your entry was unauthorized and that you intended to commit a felony or theft inside, the charge applies regardless of whether the door was locked, unlocked, or wide open.

What if I had permission to be in the building before?

Prior permission does not automatically mean current permission. If access was revoked, either verbally or through a protective order, and you entered after that revocation, the State will argue the entry was unauthorized. The timing and clarity of the revocation are often central to the defense, and we investigate those facts closely.

What should I do if I have been arrested for burglary in Bossier Parish?

Do not give a statement to law enforcement without an attorney present. What you say during booking and interrogation becomes part of the State’s case, and once those words are on record, they cannot be taken back. Contact a defense attorney before your first court appearance so your rights are protected from the beginning.

Fighting for You When You Need It the Most

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Protect Your Constitutional Rights — Contact a Haughton Burglary Defense Attorney

Most burglary cases start with one question: can the State actually prove what they filed? If they cannot prove authorization was revoked, or they cannot show intent, the State’s case could be in trouble.

John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm has been identifying those missing pieces since 1993, and using them to secure favorable pleas, reduced charges, and acquittals. Contact us today to walk through the facts of your case before your next court date.