Is burglary a felony in Louisiana?

The crime of burglary is defined as unlawfully entering a business or residence with the intention of stealing money or property. First-time offenders may be sentenced to a year in state prison for a simple burglary offense. In the State of Louisiana, individuals who are convicted of felony offenses can expect a sentence of at least one year in state prison and up to 12 years for aggravated burglary.

Aggravated burglary in Louisiana will be prosecuted as a felony crime if the offender:

• Is armed with a dangerous weapon during the commission of the crime
• After entering the residence or business arms himself or herself with a dangerous weapon
• Is guilty of committing battery upon an individual while committing burglary

The Louisiana District Attorney may choose to file burglary charges against an individual even if they are only guilty of trespassing. How prior convictions influence your Louisiana felony charge may result in a longer prison sentence and much harsher fines. Currently, the Louisiana State Legislature is attempting to pass a bill that will increase the penalties for burglary when the crime is committed using a map of a home or a building by entering the address of the individual’s name through a website. If such a map is used when committing burglary, the bill calls for the offender to be sentenced to additional time in prison.

Getting Help From a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Whenever you are facing criminal charges, such as burglary, it can be a scary time in your life. Most people who are not familiar with legal procedures can end up incriminating themselves by actually attempting to cooperate with the police. This is the worst thing you can do and you may end up behind bars even when you are innocent. Therefore, it is imperative that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to act on your behalf.