Fredericksburg Burglary Penalties

After being charged with a burglary, establishing your options is the next critical step for a defendant. An experienced lawyer could help you better understand Fredericksburg burglary penalties. When meeting with your seasoned counsel, it might be best to ask what legal consequences you could be facing.

Degrees of Burglary and the Consequences in Fredericksburg

Within the realm of law, there are different degrees of burglary. The defining characteristics of which are in two major categories.

The first takes into account the type of felony that was intended to be committed in the building that was broken into. The second category is whether the alleged individual breaking into the building was armed with a deadly weapon.

Someone who is found guilty of breaking in with the intent to commit a felony faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. A person who is found guilt but was armed with a deadly weapon at the time faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a Class 2 Felony.

Aggravating Factors for Burglary in Fredericksburg

Virginia statutes state that there are several factors that could seriously aggravate a burglary charge. One of the most condemning is if the alleged perpetrator was armed with a deadly weapon. When a person breaks into a building with the intent to commit a felony while carrying a deadly weapon, they pose a more serious risk to owners of the building and other property and are committing a more serious felony. The law allows that person to then be charged with a Class 2 Felony which is punishable with life imprisonment.

Other aggravating factors pertain to the type of crimes the commonwealth alleges. A crime is considered more dangerous when someone breaks and enters into a building with intent to hurt a person, take something, or destroy property than someone breaking and entering a building for the purpose of committing a less serious felony.

One of the most serious aggravating factors that raises burglary to the highest level of criminal offense in the minds of many judges and prosecutors is when a home is broken into while the owners are present or when the owners return home and are robbed by an individual who broke into their home. Judges routinely take account of the psychological toll that a violent crime has on homeowners, especially in a home invasion. Prosecutors and judges believe home invasion is one of the most serious invasions of property and one of the most serious types of crime.

It is devastating for individuals to return home and find their home was burglarized. It is a much more threatening of a crime with more serious consequences when a burglary occurred, or a home invasion occurred when people were present when they believe themselves to be in the safety of their own home.

Contact a Legal Representative

Fighting the seriousness of these charges is in the best interest of any defendant. Contact a legal representative who understand Fredericksburg burglary penalties.