Burglary and Robbery charges are felony offenses which are generally classified as ‘violent crimes’ under the law, regardless of whether violence was involved, or even whether a weapon was possessed. They are also among the more serious offenses in New York State, and Judges and prosecutors tend to look rather harshly upon defendants facing such charges.

And the collateral consequences that such convictions carry beyond those imposed by the Judge can also be very significant. You may lose the right to vote, get school loans, possess or purchase firearms, or receive certain government benefits, including certain loans and housing opportunities. A conviction can injure your standing in the community, hamper your employment and income potential, and can have a dramatic impact on personal relationships, and even with family members.

It is important that those facing such charges take them as seriously as those prosecuting them do. There may be an available defense, such as mistaken identity or license (ie. permission to be on the subject property), but the prosecutor might not be willing to listen, and your defense isn’t worth much if your attorney doesn’t know how to take the information you provide them with and develop it into a viable trial defense. If you are charged with a serious crime such as Robbery or Burglary, you will certainly need an experienced and aggressive attorney who knows how to investigate a case and present it in the best possible light, whether in front of a trial jury or in a presentation to the prosecutor.