The punishment for committing theft varies from state to state, but you can be sure that you could easily end up serving time in a state prison even for committing what you may think is petty theft.
For instance, you could end up in jail for stealing your neighbor’s purse and even lose your right to vote in some states. This explains why it is crucial to consider working with one of our experienced lawyers for theft cases whenever you are charged with any theft-related crime.
Burglary is one of the most serious forms of theft. In most states, it is charged as a felony offense with possible severe penalties. A conviction for a felony burglary offense carries a jail sentence exceeding one year in a state or federal prison.
Depending on the state and the circumstances surrounding the case, a felony burglary can easily result in 20 or more years in jail. A misdemeanor burglary can easily result in a jail term of up to one year.
The fines charged on burglary offenses are also significant. Depending on your state, a fine for felony burglary can be as high as $100,000, while misdemeanor burglary can attract a fine of up to $1,000.
In some states, if you are accused of committing burglary without taking or damaging any property, the court may order you to pay restitution. This means that you have to pay the property owner a specified amount of money to compensate them for their losses and allow them to repair any damage to their property. Restitution payment is always an addition to any fine that the court may impose.