Being accused of committing a burglary in Fort Myers, FL., comes with the threat of serious charges that can carry penalties such as jail time. These charges place both your freedom and your future at risk. Facing these kinds of charges can be extremely stressful, and navigating the complicated Florida legal system alone can seem like an impossible task.
So, if you’re facing charges for burglary, call The Law Place and let us guide you through the legal process and build you the strongest defense possible. Here at The Law Place, we’ll offer you a free consultation. After this, should you wish to continue, you will be assigned a highly skilled criminal attorney that is experienced in dealing with cases just like yours. Your Fort Myers criminal defense lawyers will fight back against the prosecutor and push to get charges reduced or even dropped entirely.
If your future and freedom are at risk, call The Law Place for a free consultation. Our phones are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means someone will always be available to answer your call day or night. For a free consultation, call The Law Place at (941) 444-4444.
What Are the Different Kinds of Burglary?
There are three main types of burglary recognized in Fort Myers, Florida, according to Florida Statute 810.02.
- Burglary of a structure – A Structure is recognized as any building not intended for the use of housing a resident, for example, a convenience store or gas station. The most common type of burglary of a structure is theft from a store, meaning a person has entered a store in order to steal items from inside. This is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
- Burglary of a dwelling – A dwelling is a building or vehicle that is used as a residence or home. Burglary of a dwelling is defined as entering a dwelling with the intent to commit an offense. A common example of this is when a person enters another person’s home with the intent to steal their property. This a second-degree felony, punishable by up fifteen years in prison
- Burglary of a conveyance – A conveyance is an object intended to transport, for instance, a car, boat, or truck. Therefore, burglary of conveyance means that a person has entered a conveyance with the intent to commit an offense. An example of a common burglary of conveyance is when a person enters a vehicle with the intent to steal items inside. This is counted as a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Any of the three types of offenses listed above comes with the potential for a long prison sentence. A threat to your freedom like this can be daunting and extremely stressful, but you don’t have to face it alone. The Law Place will provide you with a lawyer that will work tirelessly to build you a strong case, bolstering your defense using their skills and experience with the Florida legal system.
What Are the Possible Charges You May Be Facing?
Depending on the nature of the offense, you may face a felony charge in the first, second, or third-degree. If charged with a felony in the first degree, you may be facing penalties as severe as 15 years in prison and fines of up $10,000. Lesser charges carry a sentence of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. All fines listed are in accordance with Florida Statute 775.083.
The severity of the charge is dictated by a number of factors, such as:
- Whether an assault took place during the offense – If this is the case, then this will be considered a first-degree felony.
- Whether the accused was in possession of a weapon during the offense – This also includes circumstances where the perpetrator arms themselves after entering the dwelling, for example, picking up a knife from the owner’s kitchen.
- The building or vehicle unlawfully entered was not occupied during the time of the offense – If the place entered is a structure or a conveyance and is not occupied during the time of the offense, then this is considered a third-degree felony and can result in a maximum five-year prison sentence and a fine of $5,000.
- The building or vehicle unlawfully entered was occupied during the time of the offense – If the conveyance or structure is occupied during the offense, then this is considered a second-degree felony and can result in a maximum fifteen-year prison sentence and a fine of $10,000.
Entering a dwelling, whether it is occupied or not, with the intent to commit a crime is also a second-degree felony.
How This Can Affect You
Being charged with any of the three types of burglary is a threat to your freedom and can seriously damage not only your future but the future of your family. Not to mention the extreme amount of stress and anxiety that can come when facing the possibility of long prison sentences.
From the possible five-year prison sentence of the third-degree felony charge for burglary of a structure. To the far more severe first and second-degree felony charges for the burglary of a dwelling that come with up to a fifteen-year prison sentence. You don’t want to find yourself navigating the chaotic world of Florida law alone. After a free consultation, our Fort Myers lawyers will get straight to work in constructing the most rigid defense possible, ensuring that you are given a fair outcome.
Without the hard work of a Fort Myers criminal lawyer and a strong defense for your case, you may find yourself imprisoned, with your freedom stripped away, leaving any dependents you may have without your support. So, to give yourself the best chance at maintaining your freedom, call The Law Place today.
What Can The Law Place Do for You?
When facing criminal charges for burglary, you may feel lost and hopeless. With the fear of severe prison terms looming over your head and the prospect of losing your freedom, it’s easy to spiral into a state of severe stress. So when your future is on the line, it’s important to remember you still have options, specifically, as outlined in your constitutional rights, the right to request a lawyer. If you choose to be represented by The Law Place, we will strive to give you the best chance at a reduction in charges or possibly of having your charges dropped altogether.
The Law Place will provide a skilled and highly experienced criminal attorney who will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the prosecutor’s case against you. Your Fort Myers lawyer will look into potential procedural irregularities, cast doubt on the case against you, and work towards the dismissal of evidence with the goal of getting any criminal charges dropped.
How Will The Law Place Help?
Seeking the help of experienced legal counsel from one of our Fort Myers lawyers should be your first step before you make any statements to the police. With our skill and experience on your side, we’ll start work by challenging the evidence, and we’ll also enter negotiations with the prosecutor.
Your lawyer will ask important questions such as, did you consent for the search of the stolen goods, or was there a warrant presented? Was the stolen property recovered? Were your fingerprints discovered at the scene of the offense or on the stolen property? Were the police acting in accordance with the law? We’ll fight to discover what exactly ties you to the crime and how strong or weak that evidence is.
Your lawyer will examine all of the evidence presented and search for irregularities in order to seek a possible dismissal or a reduction to lesser charges. The benefits of having good legal representation cannot be understated. With a Fort Myers criminal attorney in your corner, you will have a real fighting chance to ensure your future is secure.
Why Legal Representation Matters
A criminal conviction can have a permanent negative effect on the rest of your life, with the possibility of prison time and damage to both your personal and professional reputation. Prison terms affect not only you but also your loved ones. Losing your freedom and being pulled from your family is a heavy burden for anybody. This is why it is important to seek out legal representation.
Here at The Law Place, we’ll arrange a free consultation, and if you wish to proceed, your lawyer will work to build a strong attorney-client relationship. So, you can have some peace of mind while we build your defense. When facing charges for burglary, it’s important that you remember that it’s not helpless. These charges can be questioned, reduced, and possibly dropped altogether.
Call The Law Place Today
Have you been falsely accused of burglary, or are facing unfair charges? If this is the case, then we at The Law Place wants to help. After your free consultation, you will be assigned a highly experienced and skilled Fort Myers lawyer who will look over your case and start building you a strong defense.
The heavy burden of a potential felony charge and the looming threat of being torn away from your family, possibly for years, can be an extremely stressful time for anyone. But you do not have to go through it alone. Call The Law Place, and we’ll connect you with a highly experienced Fort Myers criminal lawyer who will fight for your right to a fair outcome in your case.
At The Law Place, there will always be someone available to take your call as our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, call day or night and let us shoulder the burden of navigating the complex maze of Florida law on your behalf. You can rest assured that you will be given the best chance possible at keeping your freedom and future secure. For a free consultation, call The Law Place at (941) 444-4444.