BURGLARY

Minnesota Burglary Lawyer

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In the state of Minnesota, burglary is broken into four severity levels. Burglary generally requires that you broke into the property of another person or business with the intent to commit a crime. You do not actually have to steal anything to be charged with burglary, and the level of charging depends on a variety of factors and technical definitions, including the type of structure involved.

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Burglary is typically charged as a felony, and like all felonies, can have serious ramifications for your life and future. If you or a loved one is charged with burglary in Minnesota, you need a defense lawyer on your side who understands how to fight the state’s case.

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First Degree Burglary

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Whoever enters a building without consent, and with intent to commit a crime, or enters a building without consent and commits a crime while in the building, either directly or as an accomplice, commits burglary in the first degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $35,000, or both, if:

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• (a) the building is a dwelling and another person, not an accomplice, is present in it when the burglar enters or at any time while the burglar is in the building;

• (b) the burglar possesses, when entering or at any time while in the building, any of the following: a dangerous weapon, any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon, or an explosive; or

• (c) the burglar assaults a person within the building or on the building's appurtenant property.

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Second Degree Burglary

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Second degree burglary involves similar conduct as above but either involves an unoccupied home, a bank, pharmacy, or place where controlled substances are routinely stored, possession of burglary tools, or a building that is government property, a church, historic place, or school. The maximum sentence for someone convicted of second degree burglary is ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

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Third Degree Burglary

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Whoever enters a building without consent and with intent to steal or commit any felony or gross misdemeanor while in the building, or enters a building without consent and steals or commits a felony or gross misdemeanor while in the building, either directly or as an accomplice, commits burglary in the third degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

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Fourth Degree Burglary

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Whoever enters a building without consent and with intent to commit a misdemeanor other than to steal, or enters a building without consent and commits a misdemeanor other than to steal while in the building, either directly or as an accomplice, commits burglary in the fourth degree. Fourth degree burglary is a gross misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.

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Contact a Minnesota Burglary Lawyer

 

Burglaries are very serious cases, but can be are hard to prove. If you or a loved one has been charged with burglary, you need an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney working on your side. Contact the legal team at Lighthouse Defense today to learn more about how we can help you through the details of your burglary case.