Solvang Breaking and Entering Criminal Defense Attorney

California Penal Code 459: Breaking and Entering Defense Attorney

Solvang is the Danish village nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley that looks and smells like Christmas year-round, with twinkling lights at night and baked goods served fresh every morning. Solvang, a quick 45-minute drive from Santa Barbara, is a truly unique village rife with activities, seasonal festivals, wine-tasting rooms and delectable dining. A city with extreme wealth and attraction can also be a big 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 intent to commit theft or any 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 Solvang.

If you have been arrested for “breaking and entering”, it does not mean that you are guilty. It is 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.

As 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 in your case.

BREAKING AND ENTERING & BURGLARY

Historically, burglary was defined as breaking and entering into a home at night with the intent to commit a felony inside. Today, states have done away with many of these requirements and broadened the definition of burglary. In California, a person commits burglary by entering into any building, room, store, vehicle, shipping container, or mine without permission and with the intent to commit theft or a felony inside.

For example, a person who goes into someone else’s apartment in order to steal a laptop has committed burglary. The elements of a modern day burglary include:

BREAKING

In the old common law, burglary required an actual breaking into the building or structure. However, today there is no requirement of an actual breaking into the structure or building.

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 was unlocked or slightly open.

The California law also states that constructive breaking such as by fraud, threats, or misrepresentations are also considered a breaking.

ENTRY

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 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 the theft, felony, or to gain entry.

INTENT

The suspect entering the structure or building must have 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.

DWELLING

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.

BREAKING AND ENTERING PENALTIES

In order to be convicted of burglary in California, the prosecution must prove that the defendant:

• “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

First-degree burglary is always a felony in the state of California. Penalties for a first-degree burglary conviction are:

• a two, four, or six-year sentence in a state prison; and
• a “strike” on the defendant’s record.

Under California’s Three Strikes Law, if you receive a strike for a felony conviction, such as burglary and you are convicted of a second felony, the prison sentence for the second felony will be doubled. A third strike (a third felony conviction) will result in a life sentence.

SECOND DEGREE BURGLARY

Second-degree burglary is a “wobbler” charge in Solvang, which means that it can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the details of the case including the value of stolen items.

The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor second-degree burglary conviction is:

• one year in county jail; and
• a fine of $1,000

Penalties for a felony second-degree burglary conviction are:

• a 16-month, two-year, or three-year sentence in a state prison

FIGHTING A BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGE

A skilled criminal defense attorney may be able to raise several legal defenses to PC 459. Some of these defenses might include:

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

You have an alibi to show that you are not the person that the prosecution claims committed the burglary.

NO ENTRY

You never entered another person’s dwelling because you never crossed the structures outer boundary.

NO INTENT

You did not intend to commit theft or any felony crime before you entered the dwelling or vehicle.

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

If there is a weakness or inconsistency in the evidence presented by the prosecution, your attorney may be able to challenge its validity.

DURESS OR THREATS

If you were forced or threatened to break and enter the dwelling or vehicle, you should not be convicted of this crime.

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 Santa Maria 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.