Jacksonville Burglary Lawyer

Burglary is a complicated charge in Florida because it encompasses several scenarios that can result in a felony penalty. Burglary of a dwelling can result in more severe penalties if the homeowner is asleep and a burglar breaks in. Burglary can also be charged when a structure, an abandoned building, or a conveyance (a vehicle) is breached. If the perpetrator confronts someone during a burglary and is armed, or assaults or batters the person confronted, penalties quickly mount if convicted, to years behind bars.

If a Jacksonville Police officer or Duval County Sheriff’s deputy confronts and arrests you for burglary, do not offer any apology or explanation. You are only required to identify yourself, and after that, you are entitled to legal representation so you do not incriminate yourself, even if you are innocent.

Upon arrest, an officer must read you your rights and inform you that you are entitled to be represented by a competent attorney. Should an officer fail to read you your Miranda rights and continue to interview you, our Jacksonville burglary defense lawyers can question the constitutionality of your arrest and may be able to get police evidence thrown out. 

Because you are entitled to a legal advocate, Pick Porter!™, and we will intercede once you call us, no matter what time of day or night.

After you are arrested because law enforcement has probable cause to believe you committed a burglary, always a felony, you have entered the criminal court process. These steps include:

• First appearance before a judge within 24 hours of being jailed, at which you can be represented by counsel, the judge will explain the charges you face and probably set bail or release you on your own recognizance
• The arraignment occurs next for the judge to read the exact charges against you after the prosecutor files an information or you are indicted by a grand jury, and you will have an opportunity to challenge the charging document and enter a plea, preferably of not guilty to preserve your rights and negotiate a deal
• Discovery entails the prosecution providing certain evidence and information to your defense attorney outside of court
• Pretrial hearings are set by the judge to ensure the case is moving along and any problems or questions can be addressed as they arise

Your dedicated burglary attorney in Jacksonville will conduct an additional investigation by examining evidence, consulting expert witnesses, reconstructing events, and building a credible defense, depending on your circumstances. This case-building time can also include negotiations with the prosecutor to secure a beneficial plea agreement. If you accept the agreement, our attorneys will speak with you at length about the ramifications and will appear with you in court to accept the terms. If a plea agreement is not reached, we painstakingly prepare for trial, including pretrial motions to suppress tainted evidence or limit a witness’s testimony to specific points.

At trial, a jury will hear the prosecutor’s opening statement and then your defense attorney’s. The prosecutor will present evidence and witnesses that your attorney can question. Closing statements complete the trial process, after which the jury will deliberate on your fate.

At Problems? Pick Porter!™, our attorneys have almost a century of combined experience, much of it spent serving clients in Florida. We know the judges and prosecutors who will define your future, and they know us as fair and formidable defenders.

At Problems? Pick Porter!™, our Jacksonville burglary lawyer practices in the state and federal courts, making us well-equipped to defend you regardless of the obstacles you face. We handle each case with the utmost integrity and professionalism, which earned us the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubble, which is the highest rating awarded to attorneys for ethical conduct and legal ability.