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Aggravated or Armed Burglary

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Section 14 makes aggravated or armed burglary a criminal offense in Massachusetts. The law states that anyone who breaks into a home at night and intends to commit a felony who is armed with a dangerous weapon assaults and occupant is guilty of this crime. This is an extremely serious charge. The district attorney will be looking for a high bail or possibly to have your detained under the dangerousness statute. If you get convicted the sentence will be severe. Anyone charged with this crime in Massachusetts needs to hire a lawyer right away. There is no benefit to waiting. You need to start your defense to this crime right now. Witnesses need to be interviewed immediately before they forget important details to the case or leave the area.

How is Aggravated or Armed Burglary Defined in Massachusetts?

The district attorney’s office must prove five things beyond a reasonable doubt for someone to be convicted of this crime.

  1. That the home was someone other than the defendant’s. If the defendant has a right of occupancy in the home the prosecutor cannot satisfy this element of the offense and the defendant must be acquitted.
  2. That the defendant broke into the home. This requires the prosecutor to prove that a barrier to entry was moved by the defendant. For example, forcing open a locked door or window constitutes a breaking. Similarly, opening closed doors and windows will satisfy this element of the offense. Entering an open door does not satisfy this aspect of the offense.
  3. That the defendant entered the home. If someone makes his way into a home, even by placing a hand or foot in the property he has entered the property. Any part of the body suffices.
  4. That at the time of entry the defendant intended to commit a felony. The prosecution must identify the felony it claims the defendant intended to commit. Felonies are crimes punishable by incarceration in the state prisons.
  5. That someone was lawfully home at the time of the entry and that the defendant was either armed with a dangerous weapon or armed himself with a dangerous weapon once inside the dwelling or that he committed an assault on the occupant. Dangerous weapons can be just about anything if it is used in a dangerous manner. There is also a class of inherently dangerous items such as guns and certain knives that automatically qualify as dangerous weapons no matter how they are used.
  6. That all of these events took place in the nighttime. Nighttime in Massachusetts is defined as one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise the next day.
What Are the Penalties for Aggravated or Armed Burglary in Massachusetts?

Aggravated or armed burglary in Massachusetts carries a 10 year minimum state prison sentence. If the aggravated or armed burglary is committed with a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or assault weapon there is a 15 year minimum sentence that must be imposed.

Aggressive Experienced Defense of Crimes in Massachusetts

If you have been charged with aggravated or armed burglary or other violent crimes in Massachusetts the expertise of a lawyer like Stephen Neyman should be considered. Our office has over 20 years experience defending crimes such as these throughout Massachusetts and other parts of the country. Call us now at 617-263-6800 or contact us online.

Recent Cases
  • Charges of Home Invasion, Armed Burglary, Assault and Battery and Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon Dismissed

    Marlborough District Court: On February 16, 2013 Marlborough, Massachusetts police officers responded to an apartment for a call that someone had broken into a home and assaulted its occupants. The occupants reported to the police that the defendant, a Sudbury, Massachusetts businessman had kicked in a window, entered the property, grabbed and punched the female occupant and chased the male occupant into the parking lot. The suspect fled and was apprehended nearby by the police. Charges of Home Invasion, Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Armed Burglar and more were filed. After a series of court appearances involving various pretrial motions Attorney Stephen Neyman succeeded in getting all charged dismissed.

  • Drug Distribution Charges Against Local Restaurant Manager Continued Without a Finding, School Zone Dismissed

    Lowell District Court: On December 2, 2012 members of the Lowell, Massachusetts Department acting in an undercover capacity observed a vehicle being driven by the defendant being operated in an erratic manner. The officer pulled the car over and immediately smelled a strong odor of unburnt marijuana coming from the car. When they made contact with the operator, a local restaurant manager, they saw in plain view drug distribution paraphernalia. Specifically, the police saw packaging materials and a digital scale. The defendant was arrested and charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute narcotics and a Massachusetts School Zone Violation. Today, Attorney Neyman was able to get the School Zone Charges dismissed and the remaining Massachusetts Drug Charges continued without a finding. All charges will be dismissed shortly.

  • Charges of Attempting to Commit a Crime and Possession of Burglarious Instruments Dismissed, Charges of Trespass, Malicious Destruction to Property Less Than $250 to be dismissed

    Gardner District Court Docket Number: 09-0671. On June 29, 2009 while on routine patrol police in Petersham, Massachusetts observed two individuals attempting to pry open the door of an abandoned inn owned by the town. The officer approached the defendant and his accomplice who admitted to attempting to gain entry to the property. The officer also found a multipurpose tool used to force entry into locked properties in the defendant's possession. The defendant was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors. Today Attorney Neyman was able to get the felony charges dismissed against our client. The misdemeanor charges were continued without a finding for six months. If our client remains free from criminal trouble in the next six months those charges will be dismissed as well.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"We went to trial and won. He saved me fifteen years mandatory in state prison for this case." A.C. Boston, Massachusetts
★★★★★
"I hired him and he got the case dismissed before I had to go into a courtroom. My school never found out and if they had I would have lost my academic scholarships. He really saved my college career." Melissa C. Cold Spring, New York, October 2013
★★★★★
"My union rep told me to call Steve Neyman. From the get go I felt comfortable with him. He took the time to talk to me about my case whenever I needed .... He even gave me his personal cell number and took all my calls. We won the case and I kept my job." Bart L. S.
★★★★★
"The best criminal defense lawyer in Massachusetts. Takes all of his client's calls at any time of the day or night. He was always there for me and my family. Steve saved my life." Jacquille D. Brockton, Massachusetts
★★★★★
"In less than two months Stephen Neyman got my old conviction vacated. I now have no criminal record." Paul W. Boston, Massachusetts