Louisiana Burglary Defense Lawyer

Burglary Defense Lawyer in Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, & Ruston, LA

Are you a suspect in a burglary investigation? You may face serious charges if the prosecution uncovers enough evidence to implicate you. Even if you did not physically break into a property, you could be charged with burglary for entering a property without permission with the intent to commit a crime while you are there. Burglary is always a felony offense in Louisiana. A conviction can lead to steep fines, years of imprisonment, restitution, and more. The moment you suspect law enforcement is on your trail, speak to a Louisiana burglary defense lawyer.

Defining Burglary in Louisiana

Burglary describes the act of unlawfully entering into a dwelling, building, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft. Matters become more complicated when the perpetrator carries a weapon or physically assaults someone while attempting to complete the burglary. A burglary can occur regardless of whether a dwelling or structure is inhabited. The structure in which the burglary takes place may be a residential or non-residential property.

The circumstances surrounding your particular case will determine the severity of your felony charge and the severity of your sentence if you are convicted of the crime. Hiring a Louisiana burglary defense attorney like Eric G. Johnson of The John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm to represent you is an investment in protecting your reputation and future.

Burglary and Robbery: Two Distinct Crimes

Burglary is often likened to robbery; however, these are two distinct crimes. Robbery in Louisiana takes place when fear, intimidation, or force are used to take another’s property without his or her consent. Usually, the perpetrator confronts a victim to steal her property right from her hands. To the contrary, burglaries rarely have witnesses to identify perpetrators. Due to the lack of witnesses, false accusations are common, meaning that a skilled lawyer is crucial to defending your case.

Home Invasion Defense in Louisiana

A home invasion is a violent offense in which a perpetrator unlawfully enters an inhabited dwelling with the intent to use force or violence against the inhabitants or to vandalize, deface, or damage the person’s property, or both.

Penalties for those convicted of a home invasion include:

• A fine of up to $5,000
• Imprisonment at hard labor for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years
• At least five years of the sentence shall be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of the sentence

A person who commits the crime of home invasion while armed with a dangerous weapon can face the following penalties:

• A fine of up to $7,000
• Imprisonment at hard labor for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 30 years

Penalties escalate when, at the time of the unauthorized entry, there was present in the dwelling any person under the age of twelve or anyone sixty-five and older, or any person with a developmental disability. In this scenario, at least 10 years of the sentence imposed shall be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or the suspension of the sentence.

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Finding the Right Burglary Defense Lawyer in Louisiana

Burglary charges often accompany many other criminal charges that require the careful attention of a knowledgeable Louisiana criminal defense lawyer. Eric Johnson has defended complex criminal cases since 1993 and has handled a wide variety of theft-related cases and felonies throughout the state. He has vast experience negotiating with prosecutors to dismiss or reduce charges and to reduce sentences. The sooner you get Eric on your case, the better your defense will be.