Getting charged with 1st Degree Burglary in St Louis is a felony level crime. It is described as a Class B Felony by the state of Missouri. This means that the potential sentence handed down by the court could be five (5) to fifteen (15) years of jail time.
But just because you have been charged with such a crime does not mean that the prosecutor can prove that you are guilty of it. The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime of first degree burglary.
Specifically, the prosecutor must show the following: 1) that you entered into a building (or habitable structure, like a house) unlawfully; 2) that your purpose for entering the building (or habitable structure) was to commit a crime therein; and 3) that when you entered the building, or while you were already inside the building, or in the immediate exit from the building: a) you were armed with explosives or a deadly weapon; or b) you caused or threatened immediate physical injury to another person (who was not a part of the crime); or c) another person was present inside the building or structure who was not a participant in the crime. (Mo Stat 569.160)
Pleading Guilty Is Not Your Best Option!!As you can see, there are very specific elements involved with this type of crime. And it is the prosecutor’s job to prove that you committed each of these things. If he/she cannot, then the prosecutor risks losing the case at trial.
However, before it reaches a trial, your St Louis burglary attorney may be able to work out a deal (i.e. plea bargain) with the prosecutor. This deal usually involves some sort of reduction of the original charge to a lesser infraction. Sometimes this deal will entail community service, a fine, certain classes, or anything else the judge demands. If such a deal can be worked out, then a trial will become unnecessary.
The affordable St. Louis criminal defense attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company have been taking care of criminal charges in Missouri for over ten (10) years. We specialize in making sure that your record stays clean, and so that you can move forward with life. And we want to do it all at an affordable price. The upfront fees for a low level felony charge start at $750. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today to learn more!!
We have two main locations: in the Central West End of St. Louis, at 1 North Taylor (on the corner of Taylor and Laclede), 63108; and in the Twin Cities of Festus / Crystal City, at 1000 Truman Blvd (Highway 61/67), 63019.