New Hampshire Burglary Lawyer
Burglary is a very serious criminal charge in New Hampshire, and a conviction can have very serious ramifications on a person’s work, family, and social life. New Hampshire takes burglary charges and convictions very seriously. Penalties may include hefty fines and serious jail time, depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case, as well as the nature of the underlying crime. If you have been charged with burglary, it is essential that you have an experienced New Hampshire burglary lawyer on your side representing you throughout your case. An experienced New Hampshire criminal attorney can discuss all of the facts and circumstances of your individual case, explain all of your legal rights to you, and assist you with potentially having your charges dropped or reduced.
Burglary Defined Under the New Hampshire Criminal Code
The New Hampshire Criminal Code defines burglary as entering a building or occupied structure with the specific intent or purpose of committing one of the following crimes:
- Theft
- Robbery
- Simple Assault
- Aggravated Assault
- Murder
- Sexual Assault or Rape
In order to be charged with burglary, it is not necessary that an individual steals something or be a professional criminal. The person need only walk through the front door of a building where they are not welcome, in order to be charged with burglary.
Possible Penalties
In New Hampshire, a conviction for burglary is a felony conviction and stays on a person’s record for the remainder of their life. Criminal record checks are becoming more and more common nowadays, and a criminal record can make it extremely difficult to do any of the following:
- Gain employment or keep a job
- Gain admission to an educational institution – especially a college or university
- Find a place to live
Other serious penalties can range from expensive fines to extensive jail time. Jail time for a burglary conviction can range from 7 to 15 years in a state prison, depending on the facts, circumstances, and nature of the offense.
Burglary Charge Defenses
Burglary is a very fact-specific crime. The most common defense that New Hampshire burglary lawyers may strategize and utilize to a burglary charge is a lack of specific intent.
In other words, the person charged with burglary must show that they lacked the necessary specific intent to commit the theft (or whatever the underlying crime may be).
Contact a New Hampshire Burglary Attorney Today
If you have been charged with burglary, you need an experienced New Hampshire burglary defense lawyer representing you at every stage of your criminal proceedings. An attorney is available to help in your case and can assist you with having your charges dropped, pleading to a less serious charge in court, and/or obtaining the least possible penalty that is available under New Hampshire law. A knowledgeable New Hampshire burglary lawyer can help you to understand all of your legal rights and ensure that they are safeguarded. Contact a New Hampshire burglary lawyer today.