Burglary Charges Lawyer Vancouver Washington

Burglary Charges Lawyer in Vancouver WA

Felony burglary charges in Washington can vary quite a bit. Burglay can range from a C felony to an A felony. It can be charged in certain domestic violence charges or it could include an otherwise simple shoplifting incident. However, all burglary charges involve the same basic scenario of unlawfully entering or remaining in a building with the intent to commit a crime therein. A burglary charge can result in only a few days in jail, or it might send you to state prison for several years. An experienced burglary lawyer in Vancouver WA can help you understand what your burglary charge might hold in future and help you fight the charges. Call Priest Criminal Defense today to get the help of a burglary attorney today.

Such criminal charges are often very hard to prove at trial because the alleged criminal conduct is evidenced only by one person’s word against another.

This can be increasingly difficult to prove at trial when alleged under a domestic violence scenario because the alleged victim may have a motive to lie. Sometimes, the alleged victim is equally culpable in the domestic dispute and may be covering up his or her own criminal conduct. Sometimes the parties have a strained relationship to begin with and the person may be fabricating the allegations out of vindictiveness.

A third common reason why a domestic violence harassment charge might be difficult to prove is because the alleged victim recants his or her story because they don’t want to get the other person into legal trouble. For these reasons, you might have a strong case for trial if charged with criminal harassment charges in a domestic violence setting. Domestic violence lawyer Roger Priest offers a free consultation, so call today to see how we can help.

Types of Burglary Charges

There are three types of burglary charges in Washington, Burglary in the Second Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, and Residential Burglary. Charges of Residential Burglary can also be domestic violence charges, when a person unlawfully enters a former dating partner or spouse’s home and commits a crime therein, like Assault, Harassment, or Malicious Mischief. The specifics of each type of burglary are as follows.

Burglary in the Second Degree

Burglary in the Second Degree is a class B felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. A conviction for the crime requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that, in Washington, a person enters or remains in a building (other than a vehicle or dwelling) with the intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein. According to the 2014 Sentencing Guidelines, a conviction for Burglary in the Second Degree will generally be punishable by as little as one month in jail or up to sixty-eight months in prison, depending on criminal history scoring.

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Burglary in the First Degree

Burglary in the First Degree is a class A felony with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. A conviction for the crime requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that, in Washington, a person:

enters or remains in a building with the intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, and
while entering, being inside or during immediate flight from the building, the person is either armed with a deadly weapon or assaults a person.

Per the 2014 Sentencing Guide, sentences typically range between fifteen months and one hundred sixteen months depending on criminal history scoring.

Burglary in the First Degree (Sexual Motivation)

Any Burglary in the First Degree may also be charged with a special allegation of sexual motivation. Sexual motivation means that one of the purposes for committing the crime was for the purpose of sexual gratification. To be convicted of Burglary in the First Degree (Sexual Motivation), a jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the elements of Burglary in the First Degree and the special allegation of sexual motivation have all been proven. If convicted, the standard ranges apply at sentencing plus the sentencing court will tack on an additional twenty-four months of prison.

Residential Burglary

Residential Burglary, like Burglary in Second Degree, is a Class B felony, so both burglary charges carry the same maximum penalties. However, standard sentencing ranges are typically higher for Residential Burglary than its second degree counterpart. To be guilty of Residential Burglary, one must enter or remain unlawfully in a dwelling (other than a vehicle) with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein. Standard sentencing ranges as of 2014, ranged between three months jail and eighty-four months prison.

Free Burglary Attorney Consultation

As you can see, a burglary conviction can be devastating. Enlisting the help of an experienced burglary attorney can be vital to getting the best outcome. Priest Criminal Defense is a burglary attorney offering a free consultation on every case. We offer flat fee services and even make payment plan arrangements in certain cases if you cannot afford the entire retainer upfront. Don’t go it alone. Call today.

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Roger handled my case promptly and painlessly. We are from out of state and had spoken with quite a few attorneys in the area before we made the trip. Roger was middle of the road cost-wise (which was truly fair)and was clearly competent, handling the case in one trip over as oppose to the two or even three trip process many of the others were communicating would be the case. I would hire again without a second thought. Thanks again Roger.

Shelley W

Excellent responsiveness, considerate and honest. Roger got the job done results were in my favor. Couldn’t be happier, Highly recommend!!

Karin Saltz

Roger Priest provided truly exceptional service for a family member of mine. He was an extraordinary value for the level of knowledge and proffessionalism he provided. My loved one got the deal of a lifetime thanks to him. If any of my friends or family are ever in a less than fortunate spot and need legal advice Roger will always be my #1 reccomendation.

Taylor Vance

Roger Priest is professional, intelligent and experienced, you can tell by the way he holds himself in court. Out of the 21 lawyers I interviewed and compared on an excel spreadsheet. I put my trust in Roger and he didn\'t let me down.

Aaron M

Roger Priest was my Criminal Attorney for a DUI case I had in 2018. Through out the whole process he was in contact and always was reassuring! He gave his honest opinion on rather or not if my case would be worth going to trial, which is hard to come by! Today I left the courtroom a free man to come home to my family with a lot of tension lifted off my shoulders because of how he was articulate and presented my defense. I am very lucky to have him in my corner and to be spared. I will take this experience as a wake up call because these opportunities don\\\'t come too often! Mr. Priest definitely deserves a 5 star rating for his devotion and overall performance.

Roger Priest was referred to me by another lawyer (who could not take my case). Out of the 3 lawyers I reached out to Mr. Priest was willing to hear my case and not just try and convince me to take the easy route and plead out. He was informative, honest, and very tactical (in his approach with my case). Mr. Priest not only kept me updated with his plans and what to except he involved me in every aspect I could be in. He was very approachable and kind. I won my case, I wouldn’t have if I had gone with another lawyer. I am very satisfied with having had Roger Priest defend me. I hope to never have to use his services again but definitely would rehire him again (I wish I could hire him as my divorce attorney).

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