With the warm weather fast approaching, two things are sure: 1) more and more people will be stocking and drinking beer, 2) garage doors will be left open for teenagers to see. This is a dangerous combination for a Burglary to occur, C.R.S. 18-4-201.
Our attorneys are routinely hired in Douglas County, Jefferson County and Arapahoe County by the parents of teens who have entered open garage doors in order to get at refrigerators looking for beer. During warmer months, garage doors seem to get left open as homeowners work on their lawns or stop by a neighbor’s house to say hello. Teens have more leisure time and are out driving around.
Burglary in Colorado is defined as the entry into a dwelling or business with the intent to commit a crime. Amazingly, going into a garage is treated the same as going into a person’s house. This conduct is a class three felony under the law in every Colorado county, including Denver, Adams, and Broomfield County. A class three felony involves prison time of up to 24 years.
Kids will always commit daring acts. They have not yet learned the huge consequences of thoughtless conduct. In response, we often meet reasonable District Attorneys who will give a kid a break. In other Colorado courts, DAs are strict and want to teach a child a lesson, regardless of the intent of the child in breaking the law. They forget the huge consequences of a felony conviction on a person’s record as employers and landlords exclude felons.
Burglary in Colorado involves serious conduct like climbing into a window of a house or prying a door open. This type of conduct is generally the result of a professional looking to earn their living stealing from others. It endangers the lives of honest people sleeping in their homes – a place where they should feel secure. District Attorneys should be required under the law to differentiate these professional criminal acts from the much less intrusive conduct of kids after a beer in the garage – particularly when a garage door is left open.
Our criminal defense Burglary lawyers have handled many true Burglary cases and many which are the result of kids after beer because they are not old enough to purchase it. At the O’Malley Law Office, P.C., we have the experience and relationships to persuade District Attorneys of the difference between a real Burglary and a child’s thoughtless act. Call us at 303-731-0719 for a free initial consultation today. Together, we can protect your future.