An allegation of Burglary can have a devastating effect on your reputation, your livelihood and overall well being.  It is crucial that a Burglary case be handled with extreme care and caution by an experienced Burglary Defense Lawyer.  We are former prosecutors and have handled numerous Burglary cases in Broward and Palm Beach.  Each Burglary case needs to be examined to determine if it can be dismissed and removed from your record.  If this is a first offense, the courts in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami-Dade all have programs designed for first time youthful offenders.

Broward County / Palm Beach County / Miami-Dade County

The Burglary attorneys at Leifert & Leifert will look for ways to achieve dismissal of your Burglary charges or seek alternative resolutions that will look towards the possibility of dismissal and records expungement or sealing.  Our criminal defense lawyers are routinely in Burglary court in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade. 

810.02 Florida's Burglary Statute

(b) For offenses committed after July 1, 2001, "burglary" means:

1. Entering a dwelling, a structure, or a conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the defendant is licensed or invited to enter; or

2. Notwithstanding a licensed or invited entry, remaining in a dwelling, structure, or conveyance:

a. Surreptitiously, with the intent to commit an offense therein;

b. After permission to remain therein has been withdrawn, with the intent to commit an offense therein; or

c. To commit or attempt to commit a forcible felony.

(2) Burglary is a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment if, in the course of committing the offense, the offender:

(a) Makes an assault or battery upon any person; or

(b) Is or becomes armed within the dwelling, structure, or conveyance, with explosives or a dangerous weapon; or

(c) Enters an occupied or unoccupied dwelling or structure, and:

1. Uses a motor vehicle as an instrumentality, other than merely as a getaway vehicle, to assist in committing the offense, and thereby damages the dwelling or structure; or

2. Causes damage to the dwelling or structure, or to property within the dwelling or structure in excess of $1,000.

(3) Burglary is a felony of the second degree, if, in the course of committing the offense, the offender does not make an assault or battery and is not and does not become armed with a dangerous weapon or explosive, and the offender enters or remains in a:

(a) Dwelling, and there is another person in the dwelling at the time the offender enters or remains;

(b) Dwelling, and there is not another person in the dwelling at the time the offender enters or remains;

(c) Structure, and there is another person in the structure at the time the offender enters or remains; or

(d) Conveyance, and there is another person in the conveyance at the time the offender enters or remains.

(4) Burglary is a felony of the third degree, if, in the course of committing the offense, the offender does not make an assault or battery and is not and does not become armed with a dangerous weapon or explosive, and the offender enters or remains in a:

(a) Structure, and there is not another person in the structure at the time the offender enters or remains; or

(b) Conveyance, and there is not another person in the conveyance at the time the offender enters or remains.

As seasoned Burglary defense attorneys in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade we have the knowledge and experience to obtain the best possible outcome.