Defending Your Rights
Burglary
The Mussallem Law Firm, P.A. has years of experience representing clients charged with all types of Burglary. Burglary is when you enter a dwelling (home), structure (business), or conveyance (car) with the intent to commit a crime inside. The place cannot be open to the public at the time you enter it. You do not have to even go into the building. Just touching the outside of the place can be enough to prosecute you for burglary if you had the intent to commit some crime, such as theft.
There are several levels of Burglary crimes in Florida. If in the course of committing a burglary, you assaulted or battered someone or you were armed with a gun, the burglary considered a first degree felony. This is considered “Armed Burglary”. If you commit a burglary to a dwelling, the burglary is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and because of sentencing guidelines, you may score mandatory incarceration. A burglary to a conveyance or structure is the least serious of the burglary crimes in Florida and it is considered a third degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. If you take a gun out of a car or structure, the burglary charge can become elevated to an armed burglary, thus increasing your exposure in prison.
There are other crimes in Florida associated with burglary charges. Possession of Burglary Tools is a third degree felony in Florida. If you possess any tool or machine with the intent to use it to commit a burglary or trespass, you can be charged with this crime. As with burglary, the state attorney’s office must prove your intent and what was in your mind.
We have years of experience and have represented hundreds of clients charged with Burglary crimes. If you have been arrested for any burglary, it is important to discuss your case with a Jacksonville Burglary Attorney. Call Victoria “Tori” Mussallem today at (904) 365-5200. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.