Louisiana Burglary Attorney

What are the different types of burglary, and what are the potential penalties?

Burglary is one of the most common crimes I defend on behalf of my clients. Burglaries often occur as a result of individuals who need money to buy drugs seeking property or other valuables they can sell.

Burglary in Louisiana

Aggravated burglary is the unauthorized entry of any structure, where a person is present, with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein, if the offender is armed with a dangerous weapon or commits a battery on any person while in such structure. The potential penalty is not less than one or more than 30 years.

Simple burglary is the unauthorized entry of any structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein. It is punishable by imprisonment up to 12 years. Simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling is the unauthorized entry of an in habited dwelling with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein. And it is punishable by imprisonment for not less than one or more than 12 years.

There are several statutes which also charge unauthorized entry. These statutes do not include as an element of the crime that the offender had the intent to commit a felony or theft inside the structure. Unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling is the intentional entry by a person without authorization into any inhabited dwelling. It carries a potential sentence of up to six years.

Some fairly new crimes include looting and home invasion which have recently been added by the legislature.

Looting

Looting is the intentional entry into any dwelling, place of business or vehicle in which normal security of the property is not present by virtue of a hurricane. The potential sentence for looting is imprisonment for up to 15 years. However, when the looting is committed during a declared state of emergency, the potential penalty is imprisonment at hard labor for not less than three or more than 15 years.

Home invasion

Home invasion is the unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling with the specific intent to use force or violence upon the person of another or to vandalize, deface or damage the property of another. The potential sentence for this includes imprisonment at hard labor for not less than five or more than 20 years.

Contact an experienced burglary lawyer in Louisiana

To receive quality representation for your criminal defense, contact criminal law attorney Kirk Piccione at 337-233-9030.