Criminal Defense Attorney in Savannah Dennis O’Brien – Answering Questions About Burglary
Burglary is defined as illegally entering a building for the purpose of committing a crime. It is often referred to as housebreaking or breaking and entering. Keep in mind that a person can be charged with burglary even if he or she does not steal anything from the home. The vast majority of burglaries are committed in houses, but they can be committed in just about any building.
There are a number of questions that people frequently ask criminal defense lawyers in Savannah about burglary. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about this crime:
What Happens If I Break Into Someone’s House Without Stealing Anything?
Again, burglary may not involve stealing. If you break into a building, then you could be charged with burglary even if you do not steal anything. Burglary is a felony in the state of Georgia.
In some cases, simply going inside a person’s house can be grounds for a burglary charge. Here is an example of such a scenario:
A woman gets a restraining order against her ex-husband. The ex-husband shows up to her home and goes inside. This man could be charged with burglary. He could also be charged with aggravating stalking. Aggravated stalking is a felony in the state of Georgia.
What Exactly Constitutes Burglary?
In order for the crime to be considered burglary, a person must have an intention to steal or commit a felony. Without the intention to steal or commit a felony, one will be charged with criminal trespassing. Criminal trespassing is a misdemeanor in Georgia.
What Is The Penalty For Burglary?
Burglary is a crime that can have serious consequences. If it is your first offense, you could spend anywhere from one to 20 years in prison. Upon a second offense, you could spend two to 20 years in prison. If it is your third offense, then you could spend a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years. With the help of a Savannah GA criminal defense attorney, your chances of getting off with a lighter punishment will be greater.
If you or somebody that you know has been accused or charged of burglary, your first step should be contacting a seasoned attorney that can help guide you through your or your loved one’s case. Dennis O’Brien will work aggressively to protect your rights as a citizen, day and night.
A lot of folks in Georgia and around the U.S will openly admit that they don’t like lawyers. It’s a pretty common theme amongst most people. But what is worse than finding out that the lawyer that you put your trust in (even if you didn’t like him or her) isn’t as great at their job as they said that they were?
It’s a horrible feeling to realize that your lawyer isn’t up to par, but if you take to heart some of the following tips, you can avoid that feeling altogether.
Do Your Homework – This of it like this: if you just moved to a new city, and you knew that your car needed some body work, wouldn’t you ask around and do some research to find the most trusted body shop with the best prices?
Finding the right criminal defense lawyer in Savannah or Atlanta is similar, in that you should do your due diligence and find the right lawyer for you. If you are facing a criminal charge, the result of your case is one that you will have to live with for the rest of your life, so take the time to make sure that you choose a great criminal defense lawyer. Searching the phone directory is just the first step.
Experience Matters – It might be hard for a lot of people to believe, but there are a lot of lawyers in this world who have never tried a case in the entire span of their career. One of the first questions you should ask your lawyer is how many trials he or she has had. Also consider asking:
• Were the cases that you been involved in civil or criminal cases?
• Were the cases in front of a jury or a judge?
• How many cases did you win last year?
• How many cases have you won this year?
Specialized Case=Specialized Lawyer – It is a good rule of thumb to not hire a general practitioner to do a specialized job. Most criminal defense cases are very in-depth and contain many nuances and intricacies that only a seasoned attorney like Dennis O’Brien can navigate through.
If time is of the essence in your case and you do not have enough time to search for a proper criminal defense lawyer, Dennis O’Brien can help. With years of experience as a lawyer as well as a police officer, O’Brien Law Firm PC brings a unique set of skills and understanding to the table that other lawyers cannot. Contact us today for your free initial consultation.
If you have been accused of a crime, you should know that dealing with your charge is a very important piece of business that needs to be handled with care and efficiency. No matter whether you are charged with a felony or a misdemeanor, your case needs to be handled with care, as you could face life-long consequences and repercussions. That is why so many men and women in Savannah, Georgia and the surrounding areas choose Dennis O’Brien as their Savannah criminal defense lawyer.
A trusted professional like Dennis O’Brien will be able to provide you with the services and expertise that you need to help you on your day in court. So, why else should you utilize the services of a criminal defense lawyer?
Knowledge – A great criminal defense attorney knows the court system like the back of their hand, and all of the nuances that come along with Georgia state law. Every case that an attorney takes is going to be different, but any lawyer worth his or her salt will have the foundation of knowledge on their side to help achieve the best results possible.
Influence – A seasoned criminal defense lawyer in Savannah like Dennis O’Brien knows who the judges and prosecutors are in their county and its surrounding areas from negotiating and working with them in the past. As such, they know what practices and strategies are more and less likely to work in a given case, depending on the prosecutor(s) and judge assigned to their client.
Dedication and Research – Depending on the type of case a lawyer is working with, a great deal of research is required to formulate a strategic defense for their client. This includes reviewing all of the evidence of the case, contacting all witnesses and much, much more. This requires dedication and professionalism, which only the best defense lawyers can provide.
If you or somebody that you know has been accused of a crime, choose Dennis O’Brien to represent you. He exemplifies each of the qualities listed above, and will fight to make sure that your rights have been upheld and do everything in his power to ensure that you are awarded a satisfactory outcome in your case.
With social media being as popular as it is today, and with new social media websites popping up every few days, it can be quite easy for people to get a little carried away when it comes to sending and posting messages to other individuals.
However, the line between a friendly message and cyber stalking can be a thin one. Charges associated with cyber stalking are serious in the city of Savannah and the state of Georgia. If you have found that the messages that you have sent to a person or persons have been taken out of context or misconstrued, you should seek the counsel of a seasoned Savannah criminal defense lawyer.
In the state of Georgia, the term cyber world is very broadly interpreted, and includes crimes committed on computer networks, the internet, or devices used for communication such as a smart phone, the mail, the internet or social media sites. The term stalking refers to the act of placing an individual(s) under surveillance, following an individual(s), or contacting an individual(s) without their permission, with the intent of intimidation and harassment.
When it comes to cyber stalking crimes, there are currently two forms: Harassment and stalking. Harassment is the lesser offense, and involves psychologically tormenting or harassing somebody and his or her family, essentially inflicting emotional duress and pain. Harassment crosses the line to stalking when messages or contact sent by an individual becomes malicious, threatening or infers the threat of harm. Both of these crimes can be either misdemeanors or felonies.
Law enforcement now considers cyber crimes as very serious offenses, and those convicted of such crimes can expect to face punishments that include anything from probation to time in prison. To ensure that your rights are protected, it is important for you to speak with a knowledgeable attorney who is on your side, like Dennis O’Brien. Contact the O’Brien Law Firm PC today for a free consultation.
If you or somebody that you know is involved in a case where the outcome may be a probationary sentence outside of jail or prison, you may have some questions that you have not had the opportunity to ask your future probation officer. Below are a few frequently asked questions that arise concerning probation in the state of Georgia.
Question: I’m on probation, but I have to move for work. Is this possible?
Answer: This is a common question, and one that P.O’s (probation officers) and judges get quite often. Courts will often grant a request to move to a different state, as long as such a request is for good reason. Your best course of action would be to ask your probation officer if you are allowed to move. You will still be responsible for any payments and special conditions that have been mandated by your judge and/or probation officer. It is always wise to consult with a Savannah criminal defense attorney such as Dennis O’Brien, who may be able to help you secure your request in a more effective fashion.
Question: Must I serve my entire probation sentence?
Answer: Typically you must serve your entire probation sentence. In some cases you may be allowed to mail in your monthly probation fee payments rather than visiting the probation office in person, if you have completed everything that you were required to do. However, having your lawyer file for a petition for an early release from your probation sentence is common and can be successful as well.
Question: What is the difference between parole and probation?
Answer: Parole is a kind of supervision that starts after an individual’s release from prison or country jail after already serving a part of the sentence that they received. Probation is a kind of supervision that a judge gives to an individual instead of serving their sentence behind bars. A man or woman who violates his or her probation or parole will likely have to serve the remainder of their sentence in jail or prison.
Having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side can help increase the chances of achieving a reduced sentence or a form of supervision such as probation. Contact our office today for a free consultation to see how O’Brien Law Firm PC can help you with your legal matters.
In the State of Georgia, any act of violence or threat to a member of one’s family who is living underneath the same roof can possibly lead to charges of domestic violence. Domestic violence is unique, in that these types of cases usually do not require much evidence in order for a police officer to make an arrest.
While most people think that a domestic violence charges usually involve a boyfriend-girlfriend or husband-wife situation, domestic violence cases in Georgia can include verbal abuse, dating violence, threats of violence, and neglect.
Being accused of domestic violence is a serious accusation, and one that can ultimately end in time spent in jail, loss of one’s job, and issues with child custody. It is because of these serious consequences that those who are accused of domestic violence need to contact an experienced Savannah criminal defense lawyer like Dennis O’Brien with O’Brien Law Firm PC, who can help save your character and public reputation.
Below, you will find a few definitions pertaining to domestic violence so that you will be privy to some terminology commonly associated with these serious charges.
Domestic Violence Terminology
Family Violence – This term refers to any felony offense or any simple assault, assault, simple battery, battery, criminal damage to property, criminal trespassing or unlawful restraint of a household member or family member.
Household or Family Member – Those who are considered household or family members can be past or present parents of the same child or children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, or anybody who is living or formerly lived in the same home together.
Family Violence Protection Order – An alleged victim will file this petition in a Protective Order Hearing. Commonly known as a restraining order, this petition is filed by an alleged victim with the Court. The person who files this petition feels that there is evidence to support the fact that domestic violence has happened in the past, and will most likely continue to happen in the future.
In today’s age of ultra-sophisticated technologies, where any man or women with a regular income can purchase high speed internet for their home computer, laptop, mobile device or tablet, more and more citizens in the State of Georgia are finding themselves in situations involving internet sex crimes. It is a known fact that federal agencies as well as local police departments have units that specialize in finding sexual predators.
Those who are convicted of these types of crimes often have to deal with very harsh consequences, including lengthy prison time as well as time on parole, when that sex offender will register with the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. Because of this reality, it is wise for every citizen to know and understand some important questions that are commonly asked pertaining to sexual crimes in the State of Georgia.
What is a Sexual Offender?
- A sexual offender is any individual who has been convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or any dangerous sexual offense.
- A person who has been convicted under the laws of another state or territory, under the laws of the United States, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or in a tribal court of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor.
What is a Sexually Dangerous Predator?
- A person who was designated as a sexually dangerous predator between July 1st, 1996, and June 30, 2006.
- A person who has been determined by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to be at risk of perpetrating a dangerous sexual offense in the future.
Who is Required to Register with the Georgia Sex Offender Registry?
- Any man or woman that has been convicted after July 1st, 1996 of a dangerous sexual offense.
- Any man or woman that has been previously convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor and may be released from prison or placed on supervised release, probation, or parole after July 1st, 1996.
- Any man or woman that has been previously convicted of a sexually violent offense or dangerous sexual offense and may be released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation on or after July 1, 1996.
If you or somebody that you know or love has been accused of being an internet sex offender, and you live in the State of Georgia, it is crucial that you contact a quality Savannah criminal defense attorney who offers sex offender criminal defense such as O’Brien Law Firm PC, so that you or your loved one’s case can be reviewed.