Why You Need a Burglary Defense Lawyer in Athens, GA
If you’ve been charged with burglary in Athens, Georgia, you’re facing serious felony charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison, even if nothing was stolen.
At Swingle Levin LLC, our burglary defense attorneys in Athens, GA, have defended hundreds of clients in Clarke County courts against theft-related charges, and we know how to challenge weak evidence, negotiate reduced charges, and fight for your freedom.
Our lawyers at Swingle Levin LLC will investigate your arrest, challenge the prosecution’s case, and work to get your charges reduced or dismissed.
What Are Burglary Crimes in Athens, Georgia
Under Georgia law, burglary occurs when someone enters or remains in a building, vehicle, or structure without permission with the intent to commit another offense, typically theft or assault. The prosecution must prove you intended to commit an underlying crime, not just that you were present on the property.
Athens prosecutors charge burglary in two degrees based on the type of property entered:
First-Degree Burglary
First-degree burglary involves entering or remaining in a dwelling, including homes, apartments, or any structure used for residential purposes, without authorization. This applies whether the residence is occupied or vacant at the time of entry.
Second-Degree Burglary
Second-degree burglary occurs when someone enters or remains in a commercial building, vehicle, railroad car, watercraft, or aircraft without permission. Because these structures aren’t dwellings, this charge carries lighter penalties than first-degree burglary.
Both charges are felonies in Georgia. If you’re unsure which degree you’re facing or what your charges mean, contact our Athens burglary defense lawyers for a case review.
Penalties for Burglary Convictions in Athens, GA
Georgia prosecutes all burglary charges as felonies, regardless of whether the underlying offense is a misdemeanor. The penalties increase with each conviction:
First-Degree Burglary:
- First offense: 1–20 years in prison
- Second offense: 2–20 years in prison
- Third or subsequent offense: 5–25 years in prison
Second-Degree Burglary:
- First offense: 1–5 years in prison
- Second or subsequent offense: 1–8 years in prison
Fourth and subsequent burglary convictions cannot be suspended, probated, deferred, or withheld, meaning mandatory prison time is required. Beyond incarceration, a felony conviction impacts your ability to find employment, secure housing, obtain professional licenses, and maintain custody or visitation rights.
How Our Athens Burglary Defense Attorneys Can Help You
When you hire Swingle Levin LLC, our Athens burglary lawyers immediately begin building your defense. Here’s how we protect your rights:
Our Services Include:
- Securing a bond at your first appearance or through a superior court motion
- Filing motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence
- Requesting preliminary hearings to challenge probable cause
- Conducting independent investigations and interviewing witnesses
- Obtaining discovery and filing open records requests
- Visiting crime scenes to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case
- Negotiating plea agreements for reduced charges or alternative sentencing
- Preparing and presenting your case at trial with experienced courtroom advocacy
Bond Hearings for Burglary Charges in Athens
Bond amounts depend on the severity of your charges, your criminal history, and which court handles your case. In Clarke County, a magistrate judge sets bond at your first appearance for most burglary charges. If you’re charged with additional serious offenses or you’re already on probation or parole, a superior court judge will determine your bond.
We file bond motions in the superior court immediately after your arrest when necessary. We also request preliminary hearings to examine how you were arrested, identify grounds for dismissal, and prepare suppression motions.
Investigation and Trial Preparation
We investigate every detail of your case by requesting all prosecutor evidence, filing public records requests, interviewing witnesses, and visiting the alleged crime scene. Our goal is to find inconsistencies, procedural errors, or constitutional violations that weaken the prosecution’s case.
If we cannot get your charges dismissed or negotiate a favorable resolution, our trial attorneys will prepare an aggressive courtroom defense to create reasonable doubt and protect your freedom.
Contact Swingle Levin for Your Athens Burglary Defense
At Swingle Levin, our Athens criminal defense attorneys understand how frightening and overwhelming burglary charges feel, especially when you’re facing years in prison and a permanent felony record. We’ve defended clients throughout Clarke County and Northeast Georgia against theft-related charges, and we are familiar with how local prosecutors and judges handle these cases.
A criminal conviction affects every aspect of your life: your career, your family relationships, your housing options, and your future opportunities. We fight to protect your freedom and your future by building strong defenses, challenging weak evidence, and holding the prosecution to their burden of proof.
The sooner we start investigating your case, the more effectively we can gather evidence, interview witnesses, and identify defense strategies. Don’t wait to protect your rights.
Contact Swingle Levin LLC to schedule your free consultation with an Athens burglary defense attorney today.