Baton Rouge Burglary Lawyer

Baton Rouge Burglary Attorney

Burglary charges don’t just affect the ones being accused. Families feel the strain. In Baton Rouge, these cases carry serious weight. A Baton Rouge burglary lawyer can help you understand what counts as burglary.

We’re Ready for Hard Cases

At Longman Jakuback, we focus on criminal defense and post-conviction relief. Many of our clients come to us when they feel they are out of options. We can help people who face prison time across Louisiana.

What Is Burglary in Louisiana?

Burglary in Louisiana consists of two parts. The first part is entering a structure without permission. The second is the goal of committing a theft once inside. That goal is called intent. The structure can be any property, including a car. In Baton Rouge, there are 724.4 instances of motor vehicle theft per 100,000 people.

Intent can’t be added later. It might not qualify as burglary if someone entered for another reason. If the intent was there from the start, it may lead to a charge. This can apply even if the crime isn’t finished.

Simple burglary charges apply when there’s no violence. Aggravated burglary adds those elements. This is treated much more harshly in Baton Rouge courts. Prosecutors often pursue prison time in those cases.

Common Scenarios of Burglary

Burglary charges often come from fast-paced situations. Prosecutors use different types of proof to show intent, including:

• Video footage: Officers rely on security footage to track entry. Footage showing someone forcing a door is often enough to file a charge.
• Physical evidence: Broken locks can suggest forced entry. The same goes for broken windows. Prosecutors may use these signs to argue that someone entered with a purpose.
• Witness statements: A neighbor might see someone enter a garage late at night. The victim may testify that nothing was taken. However, they might notice that a door was open when they got home. Those details help build the case.
• Possession of tools: Intent can be claimed if someone is found with a crowbar. Having tools isn’t a crime by itself. If there are other elements present, it might make the case stronger.
• Digital evidence: Things like text messages may show planning. Maps of the location found on a phone can be of interest as well. If someone searched for something like how to pick locks, that can be used in court.

Charges often come before all facts are known. Some evidence can be taken out of context. That’s where defense work starts.

Penalties for a Burglary

In Louisiana, burglary is normally treated as a felony. Simple burglary carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison. The court can impose a longer sentence for those with prior convictions. The person may also face fines.

Aggravated burglary brings much more time. This means a person was armed during the entry. For this, the sentence can range from 1 to 30 years. Some judges in Baton Rouge might take a hard line on home invasions. They can push for time served in state prison.

Beyond prison, a conviction creates long-term problems. Felony records affect access to jobs and housing. People with a burglary conviction often face public judgment. This is why fighting the charge early is so beneficial.

Defenses to a Burglary Charge

Every defense starts with the details of the case. In some cases, a lawyer argues that the person didn’t plan to commit a crime. The entry may have been by mistake. A person might have believed they had permission. That can defeat the intent part of the charge.

Another method is to challenge the arrest itself. Police might have searched a home without a warrant. If the chain of evidence is broken, the case may fall apart.

Sometimes, the defense focuses on identity. If the state can’t prove who entered the space, then the case may fail. A Baton Rouge Burglary Lawyer works to find the gaps in the state’s version of events.

A defense lawyer steps in right after the arrest. The first job is to protect the accused. That means speaking to the police only through legal counsel.

The defense looks for weak spots. They also gather proof to tell the client’s side of the story. A defense lawyer’s job is to guide the accused to make smart choices.

FAQs About Baton Rouge Burglary Laws

Contact Our Experienced Baton Rouge Burglary Lawyer

There are 500 burglaries per 100,000 people in the United States per year. Baton Rouge has a much higher average of 1,413.7 per 100,000 people. The higher-than-average burglary rate means that the state doesn’t go easy on these types of crimes. Schedule a consultation with Longman Jakuback to push back.