Anyone’s life can have difficulties. You may feel as if your life has had an unfair number of hardships, and you suspect that it will only get more difficult. Your suspicion may have found proof after you found yourself under arrest by Maryland police.
You may have been in or on someone else’s property when that person or another individual believed that you were acting suspiciously. As a result, they called the authorities, and you now stand accused of burglary. You may simply chalk this turn of events up to your life-long bad luck, but it is still important that you handle the situation seriously.
What type of charge are you facing?
In Maryland, burglary allegations come in varying degrees, depending on the circumstances of the alleged violation, and can come with various possible penalties, including:
- First-degree burglary: This crime involves breaking and entering into a dwelling with the intention to commit theft or cause violence. A conviction could result in a sentence of up to 20 years or up to 25 years in prison, depending on the intended crime.
- Second-degree burglary: This act involves breaking and entering into a storehouse with the intention of committing theft, arson or to cause violence. A conviction could lead to up to 15 years or up to 20 years in prison, depending on the intended crime.
- Third-degree burglary: This allegation stems from breaking and entering into a dwelling with the intent to commit some type of crime inside. A conviction could result in a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
- Fourth-degree burglary: This charge can come about if someone has the intention of breaking and entering, even if such actions have not yet occurred. This misdemeanor charge could result in up to three years in prison for a conviction.
Undoubtedly, you do not want to face any of these negative outcomes. Hopefully, you can do your best to reach a favorable result for your case.
What can you do?
If you want to put your best foot forward, you may want to start by understanding the exact allegations you face as best as possible. Reaching out to local legal resources could help you ensure that you obtain reliable and applicable information. You may also want to keep in mind that you have the right to an attorney, who could help you throughout your case.
