Richmond Burglary Defense Lawyer: Safeguarding Your Rights
Simply being charged with burglary can have a lasting impact on your life, and, if you are convicted, the implications can be significant. In addition to the sentence, as determined by law, your ability to obtain housing, continue your education, and even secure a job could be negatively affected.
Clearly, with the possibility of such daunting consequences at hand, this is not a situation you should handle yourself.
The value of a qualified burglary attorney cannot be overstated — they can protect your rights, provide a defense and safeguard your future.
Cody Villalon has the knowledge and experience necessary to help you. If you have been charged with burglary in Richmond or the surrounding area, or believe you will be, contact him today at 804.316.0765.
Why Choose Us?
The Ideal Combination of Experience and Personal Attention
If you have been charged, or believe you will be charged with burglary, you are likely under a great deal of stress. Perhaps you were wrongly accused. Or maybe you simply made a bad decision. In either case, you want to engage the best possible Richmond burglary lawyer, Cody Villalon, and his team. You want to work with him because of his…
- Extensive Experience: Cody is well-versed in Virginia criminal defense law. He has been providing defense services for burglary crimes for more than a decade.
- Local Knowledge: The ability to operate effectively and efficiently in the Richmond court system is dependent upon an understanding of the courts, the prosecutors, and the system. Cody knows all three. He leverages this first-hand experience on behalf of those he defends.
- Personal Attention: When you engage our firm, you can be assured of receiving hands-on, compassionate service. Cody will personally handle your case. He has earned a reputation for generally caring about his clients’ well-being and working tirelessly on their behalf.
The combination of the above three attributes sets him apart from other burglary lawyers in Virginia. His commitment to personally serving you is incredibly valuable.
We Can Help You
Your Well-Being Is Our Primary Concern
If you are facing charges of burglary in Richmond, you are in a serious situation, the outcome of which can impact the entirety of your life. Cody Villalon knows this. He recognizes the importance of this case to your future. When you engage his services, he fights as hard for you as he would for himself. He adopts your goals as his own.
The criminal defense process in Virginia is complex, and a great deal of knowledge and experience is necessary to navigate it successfully. Cody is committed to bringing both to his clients. When you engage him, he will:
- Meet with you to gain a clear picture of your experience
- Ensure that you understand your legal rights
- Review the state’s evidence against you
- Conduct an investigation and interview any witnesses
- Confirm the behavior of the police who arrested you and the attorneys prosecuting; he will ensure that both fall within the letter of the law
- Personally represent you at your arraignment hearing and arrange for bail if possible
- Build your defense should your case go to trial
- Prepare you to testify if necessary
- Handle any appeals as appropriate.
Basically, he will manage the entire legal process on your behalf, from beginning to end. We will certainly try to have your burglary charges dismissed outright, but if this is impossible, we will negotiate to have a lesser charge formally brought against you. Our eye is always on your future.
With Cody Villalon on your side, you can rest assured that your rights will be carefully protected and your well-being aggressively defended. We appreciate the importance of this time in your life and will work hard to provide you with the highest quality legal services.
Criminal Charges in Richmond, Virginia
Our Virginia Burglary Lawyer Provides an Overview
In the state of Virginia, burglary is a serious crime; but it can be difficult to understand. In fact, many confuse the crimes of burglary and theft. Consulting a Richmond theft defense lawyer can provide clarity and guidance on the differences.
To put it simply, burglary can be defined as either common law burglary or statutory burglary. Common law burglary occurs when an individual or group illegally enters a home or dwelling at night to steal or commit another felony.
Statutory burglary is a bit more complicated and is divided into three acts, each defined by a specific code:
- Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery, or arson. (§18.2-90.)
- If you are accused of entering a dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery, or another felony, consulting a Richmond assault lawyer is crucial. (§18.2-91)
- Breaking and entering a dwelling/house with intent to commit other misdemeanor. (§18.2-92)
The list above is not all encompassing; as you can imagine, burglary does not always occur in a residence. It can also take place in a bank or in modes of transportation. You can even be charged with a crime for carrying burglary tools.
The Punishment for Burglary Can Change Your Life
The penalties for burglary in Virginia are dependent upon the seriousness of the crime.
Common law burglary and statutory burglary crimes are classified as either Class 3 felonies (resulting in 5-20 years in prison with fines up to $100,000) or Class 2 felonies, when a deadly weapon is involved (resulting 20 years to life in prison, with fines up to $100,000). On the other hand, breaking and entering, unarmed, with the intent to commit a non-violent misdemeanor is a Class 6 felony (one to five years in prison, or a discretionary sentence of up to 12 months in jail, and/or a fine of up to $2,500). If you find yourself facing such charges, consulting a Richmond misdemeanor charge lawyer can provide essential legal guidance.
If you are found guilty of being in possession of burglary tools, this class 5 felony could result in a penalty of one to 10 years in prison (or, at the court’s discretion, up to 12 months in jail) and/or a fine of up to $2,500. Consulting with a Richmond felony lawyer can provide guidance on how to navigate such charges.
Both the size of the fines and the possible time in prison could clearly have an impact on your life. It is critical that you work with a skilled burglary attorney to defend you against these very serious charges.
How Our Richmond Burglary Lawyer Will Defend You
If you have been charged with burglary, you need the services of an experienced defense attorney who not only understands the law but also knows how to build a quality defense. Rest assured, Cody Villalon does. He is well-versed in common defense strategies and leverages this knowledge to build personalized and case-specific defenses designed to best protect his clients.
The defense strategies he may employ include mistaken identity, innocence, lack of intent, and permission to be on the property. The circumstances surrounding your case will determine the most appropriate approach and how to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Richmond Burglary Lawyer Addresses Your Pressing Concerns
During this stressful time, questions are common. Knowing what you should be doing and understanding the factors that impact burglary cases are important. Cody Villalon has shared below some of the questions he is most often asked in this situation. In short, right away. If you are under investigation or believe you may be, engaging a burglary attorney is wise. You want to provide your Richmond burglary lawyer as much time as possible to build your case.
In general, felony burglary convictions in Virginia are not eligible to be sealed. However, if you were a minor at the time of the office, this may be a possibility. Your burglary lawyer can let you know if this is an option for you.
No, Virginia does not have a statute of limitations for felony crimes. If you have committed burglary, you can be arrested for it at any point in time.
Bail will be determined by a judge or magistrate during a hearing after an arrest. The burglary charges will be reviewed and a number of factors (including ties to the community and any past criminal record) will be taken into account and used to determine the type of bail that is appropriate. As your burglary attorney, we will attend this hearing and advocate for you.
In burglary cases, it is likely you would need to appear in court. But there may be certain times that your Richmond burglary lawyer could appear on your behalf. That said, when required you must appear, or the courts can issue a warrant for your arrest.
We recognize that you may have many more questions regarding your case. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation during which our criminal defense lawyer in Richmond can gain a greater understanding regarding the specifics of your situation.
Engage a Top-Notch Richmond Burglary Lawyer Today
Control What You Can
If you have been arrested and accused of burglary, or believe you will be, your future — both immediate and long term — is filled with uncertainty. Things may seem to be spiraling out of control. In situations like this, controlling what you can is important, and key to that is engaging quality legal representation.
You want to work with a professional who not only understands the law and knows the local court system, but who is also fully committed to providing you the defense you deserve. Cody Villalon is that attorney.
He has committed himself to protecting the rights of individuals in Virginia. He leverages his knowledge and experience as he defends you against burglary charges. He always takes the time necessary to understand all aspects of the case against you, conducting his own investigation. He leaves no stone unturned.
Cody is proud of the work he does and knows that the services he provides as a defense attorney are critical, not only to the Richmond community but also to our country.
Contact Cody Today
Time is a valuable commodity in criminal cases. That said, you should reach out to us today. The sooner we can begin work on your case, the more time we will have to build your defense.
Reach out to us today at 804.316.0765 to schedule a confidential free consultation. We are ready to begin work on your case immediately.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY CODY VILLALON
Cody Villalon is a criminal defense attorney in Richmond, VA representing clients accused of violent offenses and DUIs, and he specializes in serious criminal charges. He possesses more than 10 years of legal experience, has defended more than 1,000 cases, and has spent more than 5,000 hours in court. He is highly professional and well-respected by prosecutors and judges. [ Attorney Bio ]
