Burglary

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving Bucks County and Surrounding Areas

John M. Kenney is a Bucks County criminal defense attorney who can represent people charged with burglary and other offenses. He has been fighting for the rights of clients in the Levittown area and many other Pennsylvania communities since 1983, and he has a strong record of success in criminal and other cases. Mr. Kenney takes an aggressive approach to legal representation, fighting tirelessly to protect and advance his clients’ interests. Criminal charges are serious matters, and he works to limit the impact of these cases on his clients and their families. Mr. Kenney is well respected in the community for his “straight talk” style and his commitment to the people whom he represents.

Fighting Burglary Charges in Pennsylvania

Burglary is one of the charges that often come up in home invasion situations. A person commits burglary by entering a building or another occupied structure with the intent to commit a crime while inside it. The most obvious example is someone who breaks into a home or business and steals money and other valuables. The law extends to a broad range of other structures, however. It also does not require that the person charged actually commit a crime while inside. Instead, prosecutors need only prove that the person intended to commit a crime while inside the structure in order to sustain a burglary charge.

A burglary conviction comes with serious potential consequences. It is a second-degree felony that carries up to 10 years in prison in cases in which the building is not a home and was not occupied at the time. A burglary becomes a first-degree felony – with a potential penalty of up to 20 years behind bars – when the property entered is a home or was occupied at the time.

It is important to keep in mind that, as in any criminal case, the burden is on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person charged with burglary actually committed each element of the offense. This includes proving intent to commit a crime while inside the building in a burglary case. In addition, a defendant can potentially avoid a burglary conviction if he or she shows that the building was abandoned at the time, that it was open to the public, or that the person was authorized to enter the structure. In those cases, the defendant may be subject to lesser charges like criminal trespass.

Protect Your Rights by Enlisting a Criminal Defense Attorney in Bucks County

Mr. Kenney has represented defendants in criminal cases for more than three decades. He understands the legal intricacies involved in burglary cases and the strategies that prosecutors often use to prove these cases. He keeps clients fully informed of their rights and options, while exploring all possible opportunities to get charges thrown out or reduced. If you or a loved one is facing a burglary charge, contact Bucks County criminal defense lawyer John M. Kenney at (215) 547-3031 or online to set up a free consultation. He can assist defendants in many Pennsylvania communities, including Levittown, Bristol, Morrisville, Fairless Hills, Yardley, and Langhorne. Mr. Kenney also is available to represent people who need a drug crimes or DUI attorney, or assistance with a wide range of other charges.