Burglary is a serious crime. If you’ve been accused of burglary and are arrested, the following sequence of events has the potential to disrupt your life as you know it. Posting bail, working with a bail bondsman in Angleton and going through court can be a challenging and long process.
Additionally, burglary in the state of Texas is somewhat complicated. It’s important to understand the different facets of burglary in the eyes of the law and what will happen after you’ve been arrested.
Understanding burglary in the law
Burglary is defined as unlawful entry into any private building with the intent to commit a crime inside, or breaking into a building and truly committing the crime. This crime is usually theft, but this is not always the case.
In Texas, burglary is charged as a felony. There are multiple levels of these charges, depending on the situation surrounding the crime.
If a burglary occurs in a store or business—not a habitation—with the intent, attempt or action of committing a crime, this is considered a state charge felony and the accused could face up to $10,000 in fines and up to 180 days in jail.
The penalties change drastically when they occur in a habitation. These burglaries are considered second-degree felonies, facing up to $10,000 in fines and up to 20 years in a state prison.
And, if the burglary is committed in a habitation and the attempted or executed crime is something other than theft, such as rape or murder, the accused could potentially face life in prison.
What happens after you get arrested
If you are arrested for burglary, you will be taken to the local jail and detained. You may be offered bail. Paying bail may be difficult, as the price can be steep, but if you cannot afford it, you should consider working with a bail bondsman in Angleton to post bail and return to your family. This lets you work and build a defense from home while you await your trial date.
The court will administer a trial date, which you will be expected to attend. The prosecutor will attempt to demonstrate to the court that you illegally entered a building with the intent or successful execution of a crime. The court will make a decision based on the case.
If you posted bail, either on your own or through the help of a bail bondsman, and you attended all of your necessary court dates, all of your bail money will be returned to you. If you did use a bail bondsman, they will keep the set amount, which is usually 10 percent of the bail, while you retain your collateral.
If the court finds you guilty of the crime, your sentence will be determined and you may need to pay a fine or serve time in jail or state prison.
Rely on us to post your bail
If you’ve been arrested for burglary or another type of misdemeanor or felony crime, contact Brazoria County Bail Bonds for assistance in posting your bail. We have over 25 years of experience as a local bail bondsman in Angleton and will work with you to ensure you’re able to return home after an arrest as you await your upcoming court date.