Hillsboro Burglary Defense Lawyer

Aggressive Defense for Burglary Charges in Washington County

Being accused of burglary is a serious matter. If you are convicted, you could face years in prison, fines, and a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life. If you are facing burglary charges, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side who can help you understand your rights and options.

At Cornerstone Law Group, we have extensive experience representing clients in a wide range of criminal matters, including burglary. We understand the stress and anxiety that come with being accused of a crime, and we are here to provide the strong legal guidance you need to navigate the process.

Call (503) 461-5005 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our burglary defense attorney in Hillsboro.

Understanding Burglary Charges in Oregon

In Oregon, burglary is defined as entering or remaining in a building with the intent to commit a crime. The crime does not have to be theft or robbery; it can be any crime. For example, if you enter a building with the intent to commit assault, you can be charged with burglary.

There are three degrees of burglary in Oregon, and the degree of the charge depends on the circumstances of the case. First-degree burglary is the most serious charge and is a Class A felony. Second-degree burglary is a Class B felony, and third-degree burglary is a Class C felony.

First-Degree Burglary

First-degree burglary is the most serious burglary charge in Oregon. You can be charged with first-degree burglary if you enter or remain in a building with the intent to commit a crime and:

• You are armed with a deadly weapon
• You use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon
• You cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person
• You intentionally or knowingly damage the building
• You enter or remain in a dwelling
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, or other federally insured financial institution
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, or you enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy and you are armed with a deadly weapon
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you intentionally or knowingly damage the building
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon and you cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person

First-degree burglary is a Measure 11 crime, which means that if you are convicted, you will face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 7.5 years. You will also face a fine of up to $375,000.

Second-Degree Burglary

You can be charged with second-degree burglary if you enter or remain in a building with the intent to commit a crime and:

• You enter or remain in a dwelling
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, or other federally insured financial institution
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy and you are armed with a deadly weapon
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you intentionally or knowingly damage the building
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon and you cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person

Second-degree burglary is a Class B felony. If you are convicted, you will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Third-Degree Burglary

You can be charged with third-degree burglary if you enter or remain in a building with the intent to commit a crime and:

• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, or other federally insured financial institution
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy and you are armed with a deadly weapon
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you intentionally or knowingly damage the building
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon
• You enter or remain in a building that you know is a pharmacy, and you use or threaten to use a dangerous weapon and you cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any person

Third-degree burglary is a Class C felony. If you are convicted, you will face a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $125,000.

Defending Against Burglary Charges

Being charged with burglary does not mean that you will be convicted. There are many defenses that may be available to you, depending on the circumstances of your case. Our burglary defense lawyer in Hillsboro will thoroughly review the evidence against you and develop a strong defense strategy on your behalf.

Insufficient Evidence

In order to convict you of burglary, the prosecution must prove that you entered or remained in a building with the intent to commit a crime. If there is not enough evidence to prove that you had the intent to commit a crime, you cannot be convicted of burglary.

Consent

If you had the owner’s consent to enter the building, you cannot be convicted of burglary. For example, if you were given a key to a building and you entered the building with the intent to commit a crime, you cannot be convicted of burglary because you had the owner’s consent to enter the building.

Mistaken Identity

In some cases, the police may arrest the wrong person for burglary. If you can prove that you were not the person who committed the crime, you cannot be convicted of burglary.

Alibi

If you can prove that you were somewhere else when the burglary occurred, you cannot be convicted of the crime. An alibi can be a powerful defense in a burglary case, but it can be difficult to prove. Our burglary defense attorney in Hillsboro will work with you to gather the evidence needed to prove your alibi.

Illegal Search and Seizure

In some cases, the police may have violated your Fourth Amendment rights by conducting an illegal search and seizure. If the police did not have a warrant to search the building or they did not have probable cause to believe that you committed a crime, any evidence that was obtained during the search may be inadmissible in court. If the prosecution’s case is based on evidence that was obtained during an illegal search and seizure, the case may be dismissed.

Penalties for Burglary Conviction

If you are convicted of burglary in Oregon, you will face serious penalties. The penalties for a burglary conviction depend on the degree of the charge and your criminal history.

First-Degree Burglary

First-degree burglary is a Measure 11 crime. If you are convicted, you will face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 7.5 years. You will also face a fine of up to $375,000.

Second-Degree Burglary

Second-degree burglary is a Class B felony. If you are convicted, you will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Third-Degree Burglary

Third-degree burglary is a Class C felony. If you are convicted, you will face a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $125,000.

In addition to these penalties, a burglary conviction will result in a permanent criminal record. Having a criminal record can make it difficult to find a job, get a loan, or find housing. If you are facing burglary charges, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side who can help you fight the charges.

How Our Burglary Defense Lawyer in Hillsboro Can Help

Being accused of burglary is a serious matter. If you are convicted, you could face years in prison, fines, and a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life. If you are facing burglary charges, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side who can help you understand your rights and options.

At Cornerstone Law Group, we have extensive experience representing clients in a wide range of criminal matters, including burglary. We understand the stress and anxiety that come with being accused of a crime, and we are here to provide the strong legal guidance you need to navigate the process.

Call (503) 461-5005 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our burglary defense attorney in Hillsboro.