Utah Burglary Defense
Lawyer - Salt Lake Criminal Attorney
Burglary is a serious criminal
felony
charge that can result in substantial
jail or prison time along with thousands of dollars in fines.
Based in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard is an
experienced
Utah
criminal defense attorney who
represents clients on burglary and other
criminal charges throughout Utah. His
record
of results includes
not guilty verdicts and dismissals on some of the most serious
felony
charges under Utah criminal law.
Contact us today to
schedule an initial consultation.
Elements of a Utah Burglary Charge
A simple way to think of burglary is as a
criminal trespass
charge combined with some other criminal charge. The elements of a
burglary charge in Utah include proof that a defendant entered or
remained unlawfully in a dwelling or other building (essentially
a
criminal
trespass), plus evidence that the defendant had the intent to
commit another crime.
The most common crime accompanying a burglary is
theft. But
a burglary charge can also be supported by proof that the defendant had
the intent to commit an
assault,
any felony, or certain other sex-related misdemeanor charges.
A standard burglary charge in Utah involves a building of some
kind (home, business, garage, or even shed). But Utah criminal law also
establishes a misdemeanor offense for
vehicle
burglary.
Penalties for a Burglary Conviction in Utah
The
potential penalties for a Utah burglary criminal conviction can range
from a year in jail to a life prison
sentence,
depending on what kind
of burglary is involved.
Vehicle
burglary is a misdemeanor,
punishable by up to a year in jail.
Aggravated
burglary is a
first degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. Other
Utah burglary charges include second degree felony
residential
burglary
and third degree (non-residential) burglary. Related charges
include theft, assault, and
possession
of burglary tools.
Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney in Utah
Any Utah
burglary conviction can result in serious consequences. If
you
are facing a Utah burglary charge, you need an experienced
Utah
criminal defense attorney
with a record of achieving
real
results
for his clients. Stephen Howard's record of success in
defending
Utah burglary cases ranges from not guilty verdicts
at trial
on accusations of residential burglary and theft, to negotiating a
misdemeanor offer with probation on an aggravated burglary case that
carried the potential of life in prison.
Contact Stephen Howard
now to schedule an initial consultation and case analysis.
See the difference an experienced
criminal
defense lawyer can make for your case.