Costa Mesa Burglary Lawyers
Costa Mesa Burglary or California Penal Code 459 is described as entering someone else’s residence, and doing so with one of two intents:
- To rob or steal
- To commit a felony, such as embezzlement, murder or another crime
These intentions however are not the main distinctions between first and second degree burglary. Instead, the location in which the burglary takes place will affect how the burglary case is prosecuted. Those facing charges in Costa Mesa are encouraged to contact one of our experienced burglary lawyers as soon as possible for a free case evaluation.
Costa Mesa First Degree Burglary
When a burglar commits this crime where someone resides, it’s prosecuted as first-degree burglary. The consequences for doing so will be:
- Up to 6 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
Costa Mesa Second Degree Burglary
Second-Degree Burglary is handled differently, and may be classified as a misdemeanor or felony. This crime occurs anywhere outside a residential property.
Misdemeanor charges for second-degree burglary in Costa Mesa:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Up to $6,000 in fines
Felony charges for second-degree burglary in Costa Mesa on the other hand:
- Up to 3 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
The following could be considered an example of a Costa Mesa burglary offense:
Fernanda recently had a really good job, but she was fired and has now fallen on tough times. To make ends meet, Fernanda and her friends put together a plan to rob a Costa Mesa shop. The shop owner reportedly leaves a lot of money in the cash register after hours, so Fernanda and her two friends put a plan together and break into the shop. Unknown to Fernanda, there are security cameras that catch her and her friends burglarizing the store. Police use the surveillance to identify Fernanda and she is later arrested and charged with second-degree burglary. If the store owner lived in the store, prosecutors could charge Fernanda with first-degree burglary.
Factors that Influence Jail & Prison Sentence for Burglary in CA
How is sentencing arranged, and what factors influence how much time a burglar serves in jail or prison?
The court will refer to California Penal Code 459 for guidelines on minimum and maximum sentencing. To determine how much time a guilty offender serves, the court will weigh his or her criminal history, if a firearm or deadly weapon were used during the course of the burglary; if anyone was injured; and if so – the severity of these physical injuries.
If you’re facing burglary charges, the Costa Mesa burglary attorneys at the Law Offices of Randy Collins can help you. When your freedom is on the line, hiring a skilled burglary attorney to help protect your freedom is one of the most important decisions you can make.
Call our Costa Mesa burglary lawyers today to find out how we can help.
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Over 45 years of Collective Experience
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Over the years our firm has earned numerous awards and accolades for delivering outstanding legal representation. Some of our awards include: Admission to The National Top Trial Lawyers Association since 2014, AVVO Rating 10.0 Superb Rating, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys Award "10 Best Attorney Client Satisfaction" in 2018, Nationally Ranked Top 100 Under 40 in California Attorney Award in 2017, Member of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce since 2018, Martindale-Hubbell Accredited Law Firm, Distinguished in Orange County Metro "Top Attorneys" section, and Featured in Orange Coast Magazine in April 2010 as one of "Orange County's Best Criminal Defense Attorneys".
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