New Jersey Armed Burglary Attorney
Dependable Armed Robbery Defense Lawyer in Mount Laurel, NJ Steadfastly Defends and Protects the Rights of Clients in Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and Throughout South Jersey
Armed burglary is a serious crime, and it is one of the most common crimes committed in New Jersey. Depending on the specifics of your case and the type and quality of evidence that the prosecution has against you, you may be looking at second or third-degree charges for these crimes. If they were committed while you were in possession of a weapon, then the charges and their accompanying penalties can be enhanced even more. If you or someone you know has been charged with armed burglary or criminal proceedings of any other kind, contact the skilled New Jersey armed burglary attorney at the Law Office of John B. Brennan today. Our highly rated armed robbery defense lawyer in Mount Laurel, NJ will walk you through everything you need to know about your case and will help craft a sound defense to lower or dismiss the charges you face wherever possible.
Armed Burglary and New Jersey’s Robbery with a Weapon Laws
New Jersey’s burglary laws are outlined in NJ Rev Stat § 2C:18-2 (2013). This law says that someone is guilty of burglary if it can be shown that they, with the intent of committing an offense:
- Enter a facility, structure, or a separately secured or occupied portion thereof, unless the accused was licensed or had the privilege to enter the structure and it was open to the public; or
- Secretly remains in such a structure without the license or privilege to do so; or
- Trespasses on company property where public notices prohibiting trespassing are adequately provided.
These are crimes of the third degree. However, burglary can be elevated to a crime of the second degree if, while committing the offense in question, the accused:
- Purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicted, attempted to inflict, or threatened to inflict bodily harm on anyone; or
- Was armed or displayed what appeared to be explosives or a deadly weapon.
While these definitions and classifications are intentionally very specific (to make securing a well-defined conviction based on the case facts fair and accurate beyond any reasonable doubt), they also give our New Jersey armed burglary attorney considerable leeway when it comes to disproving or disputing the claims of the prosecution. For example, based on the specifics of your case, our astute armed robbery defense lawyer in Mount Laurel, NJ can argue that you had permission or the right to enter the premises you are alleged to have entered illegally, or that you did not have any intent to break the law or commit any crimes by entering said premises. The presence of a weapon can also be disputed or disproved similarly.
For the specific legal strategy that would work based on the charges you face, it would be best to speak with our New Jersey armed burglary attorney before taking any further action.
Defending Against Armed Burglary Charges with Our New Jersey Armed Burglary Attorney
Our highly qualified armed robbery defense lawyer in Mount Laurel, NJ can defend you against all kinds of burglary and armed burglary charges. Most burglary and armed burglary charges involve breaking and entering residences, motor vehicles, stores, and business premises. When such offenses occur when the accused is in possession of a weapon, third-degree burglary charges can be enhanced to second-degree charges, and the likely outcomes in terms of penalties and sentences can be seriously enhanced as well. These offenses carry mandatory state prison sentences if you are convicted. Other crimes may also be levied against you if they occur during, after, or concerning the armed burglary charges you already face, making it that much more important to have a skilled and reliable New Jersey armed burglary attorney fight your case for you.
Contact John B. Brennan’s Resourceful Armed Robbery Defense Lawyer in Mount Laurel, NJ Today
Burglary and armed burglary are serious offenses. However, there are major differences between being charged with one versus the other. There are also important and life-long implications for fighting your charges with evidence based on the law versus accepting your fate. They can be the difference between freedom and jail time, between a normal life and one of social and professional penalties, fines, and long-term pressure and obstacles. Our New Jersey armed burglary attorney is here to help. With years of experience defending clients across New Jersey, our certified armed robbery defense lawyer in Mount Laurel, NJ will fight for a favorable outcome for you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you challenge the charges you face.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burglary – Robber with a Weapon in New Jersey
If the prosecution can prove that you had explosives or deadly weapons when you broke into or snuck onto property or premises that you did not have permission to enter, you can face armed burglary charges. The definition of weapons as per New Jersey state law is quite broad, and it can mean anything from knives and guns to objects such as brass knuckles, baseball bats, and even articles of clothing such as shoes or furniture items such as chairs. Threatening to harm anyone with such weapons while committing burglary will likely increase your chances of facing second-degree charges and harsher penalties.
Third-degree burglary charges can sometimes be resolved via Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) programs, whereas second-degree charges will require special approval to enter such a program. Third-degree convictions come with between three and five years in prison and fines of up to $15,000, whereas second-degree convictions for armed burglary can come with jail time of between 5 and 10 years and fines of up to $150,000. Also note that your offense can be further elevated to a first-degree crime, leading to jail time of between 10 and 20 years and fines of up to $200,000. Armed robbery is one of the most serious types of crimes under New Jersey law and is comparable to violent crimes such as aggravated assault, kidnapping, and manslaughter. These offenses are governed by the No Early Release Act (NERA), which requires people convicted of armed robbery to serve between one-third and half of their sentence before they are even eligible for parole.