LOMPOC Criminal Defense Attorney-
Breaking and Entering – Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense, P.C.
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE 459: BREAKING AND ENTERING DEFENSE ATTORNEY
The city of Lompoc is nestled in the hills of California’s central coast and is conventiently situated near the tourist cities of Santa Barbara and Solvang, without all of the traffic. Clear roads and spaced out neighborhoods may sound like a great escape from the heavier populated cities nearby, but it does make the city a target for “breaking and entering”.
Under California Penal Code 459, “breaking and entering” commonly referred to as burglary, is a felony. Burglary is the entering of another person’s residential or commercial dwelling with the intent to commit theft or a felony. Although this crime is commonly referred to as breaking and entering, forced entry or breaking, these actions are no longer necessary for you to be convicted of burglary in California.
If you have been arrested for “breaking and entering”, it does not mean that you are guilty. It’s important to vigorously fight a “breaking and entering” charge because a criminal conviction will stay on your record and can adversely affect job and educational opportunities down the road.
A former Prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Offices in Santa Barbara and San Diego Counties, Sanford Horowitz and his legal team will offer you a free consultation, investigate the evidence against you, and recommend practical steps to achieve the best possible results for your case.
BREAKING AND ENTERING & BURGLARY
- Breaking a car window in order to steal money inside;
- Walking into another’s house to steal food or other items (this can be considered breaking and entering even if the doors were left unlocked or open;
- Entering a private office in order to commit a violent felony offense; or
- Breaking into a storage unit in order to commit theft.
- Entering a closed bank to commit robbery.
Modern-day statutes have changed a number of the aspects of the old common law of burglary. For example, in Lompoc, Burglary is defined as: any person who enters a building or structure with the intent to commit a theft or a felony. The elements of a modern-day burglary include:
- Breaking
- Entry
- Intent
- Dwelling
Just the mere presence of an intruder on the premises is sufficient as long as the intruder’s presence was unlawful. The opening of a door or window of a dwelling is considered a “breaking” even if the door or window is unlocked or slightly open.
The California law also states that constructive breaking such as by fraud, threats, or misrepresentations are also considered a breaking.
There is no requirement of forced entry into the building or structure as long as at the time of the entry, the intruder intends to commit a theft or a felony. Any portion of the intruder inside the structure, even momentarily, is enough to constitute entry. Even the use of a tool to gain entry is sufficient if it is to commit theft, a felony, or to gain entry.
The suspect entering the structure or building must have the intent to commit a theft or felony upon entering. There does not have to be an actual theft or felony, only the intent to commit one.
The old common law required that the burglary be the dwelling or house of another. Burglary today is not limited to the dwelling of another. In fact, burglary today includes structures such as stores, warehouses, tents, house boats, hotel rooms, railroad cars, trailer coaches, locked vehicles’, and aircrafts.
Burglary and robbery both often involve theft, but there are several differences between the two crimes. Burglary involves the unlawful entry into a structure whereas robbery does not. Robbery involves the use of force or fear upon another person to obtain property whereas burglary does not. Both crimes carry varying penalties upon conviction depending on the circumstances of the crime.
BREAKING AND ENTERING PENALTIES
- “Entered” a building or premise either partially or completely; AND
- Did so with the intent to commit theft or a felony
It is not necessary for the defendant to have “broken” into the premises nor for the defendant to have successfully completed or fully carried out the theft or felony so long as the intent can be proven.
First degree burglary refers to the entering of an inhabited structure in order to commit theft or a felony. There does not need to be anyone inside of the structure during the time that the burglary takes place. First degree burglary is a felony charge that carries severe penalties if convicted.
Second degree burglary refers to the entering of structures or other premises with the exclusion of residences. These premises could include commercial buildings, vehicles, boats, or animal pens among many others. In California, second degree burglary is a “wobbler” charge, which means that it can it can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
FIGHTING A BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGE
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
NO ENTRY
NO INTENT
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
DURESS OR THREATS
If you are facing a charge of felony breaking and entering, Santa Barbara County defense attorney Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense, P.C. knows the law and the best strategies for your defense. We have extensive experience representing clients throughout the Lompoc area and want to help you understand the charges you are facing as well as what your rights are under the law. If you’d like to schedule a consultation about your case, call 805-452-7214 or fill out this contact form.
