Phoenix Burglary Defense Lawyer

If you were arrested and charged with burglary, you already know what you’re facing – a stretch in prison. You might call our Phoenix burglary defense lawyer, a former prosecutor, at Suzuki Law Offices, though, because it’s our job as criminal defense lawyers to erase or minimize this stretch in prison. And it’s hard to put a price on that, so call our Phoenix theft crime lawyer today.

A Conviction for Burglary can Result in the Following:

• Permanent criminal record
• Heavy fines
• Prison sentence
• Restitution
• Forfeiture of the stolen property back to the victim

What you might not know is if there have been other burglaries in the area, prosecutors and cops could try to connect you to those as well. That could mean multiple burglary charges and a longer sentence in prison than you thought.

And if you had a gun or other weapon on you, the prison sentence gets worse – around 20 years or so worse, depending on the situation. You need a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer on your side.

At Suzuki Law Offices, our Phoenix criminal lawyers defend people against burglary charges and all other types of theft crimes. Eyewitness testimony and security cameras can be unreliable, so we work with private investigators and forensic experts to challenge the evidence. The goal of our Phoenix gun and weapons crime defense lawyer is to do our best to get the charges dismissed, get you an acquittal, or arrange a favorable plea bargain.

Types of Burglaries and Their Penalties

The type of case you have plays a role in the legal strategies developed to meet your best possible defense. Our Phoenix burglary defense attorneys will explain every detail about your case to you when you visit us for a consultation. In Arizona, there are three different degrees of burglary carrying different kinds of penalties.

In general, burglary falls under one of the following categories:

• First-degree burglary A.R.S. §13-1508: Unlawfully entering a home, business, or property while in possession of a weapon or explosive device with the intent to steal. For non-residential property, this is a class 3 with a mandatory term of 5 to 15 years in prison. For residential property, this is a class 2 felony with a mandatory term of 7 to 21 years in prison.
• Second-degree burglary A.R.S. §13-1507: Illegally entering or remaining in a residential building in order to commit a theft or felony. This is a class 3 felony and may receive a term of 2.5 to 7 years in prison.
• Third-degree burglary A.R.S. §13-1506: Entering a non-residential building, fenced property, or automobile in order to steal or commit a felony. This is a class 4 felony and may receive a term of 1.5 to 3 years in prison.

In any type of burglary case, it may be possible to get charges dropped or reduced based on how well you can defend yourself. Our Phoenix burglary defense lawyer is committed to supporting you through this process by providing exceptional insight into legal strategies that can help you. You can trust we will do all we can to defend you.

Distinguishing Between Burglary & Robbery

Burglary and robbery are two very different types of charges that carry significantly different outcomes. To put it simply, the key difference between burglary and robbery is robbery involves the use of force or threat of force while committing theft, while burglary involves entering property to commit theft. Both involve varying penalties depending on the circumstances.

• Burglary involves unlawful entry into a home, business, or other property with the intention to commit theft when the owner is not present. Burglary can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the severity of the crime.
• Phoenix armed robbery, on the other hand, is always a felony crime, as it involves trying to take something (or someone) using force or threat of force. An example of a robbery would be entering a business and demanding money from a safe while threatening employees with a weapon.

Our objective as your burglary defense attorney in Phoenix is to minimize any charges you are facing, develop a plea agreement to the lower charge, or, in some situations, develop a strong plan that enables you to be proven innocent. Expect our attorneys to help you navigate what you are being charged with while we also work to ensure you are treated fairly. Let our experience work on your behalf.

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Possession of Burglary Tools

Even if you did not commit the actual crime of burglary, you can still be charged with possession of burglary tools if you have instruments in your possession that show you had intent to commit burglary. Regardless of what type of burglary charges you are facing, have an experienced burglary defense attorney evaluate your case.

Our team at Suzuki Law Offices understands what it takes to fight these charges and aims for a reduced sentence or a complete dismissal of these charges.

If you are unsure what is applicable in your case, let our Phoenix burglary defense attorneys offer insight and guidance to you. We will review the information available to get to the heart of what you are facing. Some examples of burglary tools include:

• Crowbars
• Lock picks
• Screwdrivers
• Hammers
• Torches
• Explosives
• Heavy-duty tools that can burn through steel or concrete
• Masks and gloves to conceal identity
• Master keys that can gain entry into a vehicle or property to steal
• Ropes to climb over walls

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What Is the Legal Process You Can Expect in a Burglary Case?

When you meet with our burglary defense lawyer in Phoenix, we will provide you with information about what to expect throughout this legal process. Our objectives are to help you to feel as comfortable and as confident as possible in navigating your rights. We strongly urge you to ask us questions about the legal process if you have any.

• Investigation: The first step is an investigation to determine if there are grounds to charge you with the crime. This will need to show that you committed the crime and that there was a reason for you to do so.
• Formal charging: If there is enough evidence to prove you are guilty in the eyes of the p prosecutor, the next step is charging you with a crime by filing a formal charge against you. We encourage you to have an attorney by your side at this point.
• Initial appearance: You will then have an initial appearance in a court of law. This happens within 24 hours of being booked.
• Status conference: A status conference is held to determine if it is possible to settle your case outside the courtroom. Our attorney will work with the prosecutor to negotiate a plea deal at this point if that is applicable in your case.
• First hearing: Your preliminary hearing will allow a judge to determine if your case should go to trial, which can be done if the prosecutor has evidence to prove their claims.
• Arraignment:  The next step takes place within 10 days of being charged. At the arraignment hearing, you can enter a plea and will receive information about your upcoming trial.
• Discovery: The team on our side and theirs will go through the discovery process to gather any available information and evidence to back their side.
• Settlement conference: During a settlement conference, we will work to try to reach a settlement if possible.
• Trial: When there is no settlement, your case will move to a trial. This will allow both parties to make their case and it often means providing full disclosure.
• Sentencing: If you are convicted, you will be sentenced, and this could include probation and prison time.

Because there is so much on the line in a case like this, you will benefit from hiring our Phoenix burglary defense attorneys to work with you. As soon as you contact us, we will go to work to start building your case for you. Do not expect to be let down by our professionals. 

We Build a Strong Defense for You

One of the most important ways our Phoenix burglary defense attorneys support our clients is by creating an exhaustive, comprehensive defense strategy for you. This process addresses every area of the case where we believe there is a lack of evidence, mistakes, or other information that is not being properly or fairly presented. Our attorneys always develop a defense strategy that is most likely to be effective to you, which may include:

• Lack of intent: In many situations, we can challenge the evidence in the case and prove that there is a lack of intent. That means that you cannot be accused of a crime you did not intend to commit.
• Solid alibi: There are many times when having an alibi is all you need to show that you did not commit this crime.
• Unlawful treatment: You have rights throughout this process, and if we can show that law enforcement voided those rights, they can be used on your behalf. This may include proving that they did not have the right to enter the property.
• Misidentification: There are many times we can show that you were misidentified as the person who committed this crime. If that is our objective, we must be able to have evidence to back up such statements.
• Under duress: There are some situations where you may have been under duress, and that is what led you to take the actions you did.

Our Phoenix burglary defense attorneys will ensure that any applicable defense strategy in your case is considered. Do not wait any longer to put us to work for you. Instead, give us a call now so that we can begin working to build a strong defense for you today, and read our frequently asked questions for more information.

You Are Not Alone: Contact Our Phoenix Burglary Defense Attorney Now

With the help of our trusted, experienced, and compassionate Phoenix burglary defense lawyer, you will get through this situation with the best possible outcome. At Suzuki Law Offices, we make sure you are treated with the support you need and the aggressive legal defense you desire. Contact us now to set up a consultation to discuss your case.

Call or text 602-682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form