An Illinois man faces criminal charges for burglary and residential burglary after allegedly breaking into multiple Bloomington homes, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
In the early morning of Tuesday, December 21, this Illinois man allegedly broke into two Bloomington residences — one in the 1300 block of North Hershey Road and another in the first block of Bandecon Way.
As a result of this incident, the authorities charged the Illinois man with a Class 1 felony for residential burglary as well as Class 2 and Class 3 felonies for burglary. At this point, the Illinois man remains jailed after declining to post bail.
While this Illinois man awaits a January 7 arraignment, it seems appropriate to review burglary and residential burglary offenses under Illinois law.
Burglary
720 ILCS 5/19-1 establishes the Illinois laws against burglary. Under this section, a person commits burglary if they knowingly and without authority:
- Enter or remain within any aircraft, building, house-trailer, motor vehicle, railroad car, or watercraft; and
- Demonstrate the intent to commit theft or a felony crime.
Section 19-1 also explains the Illinois punishment for burglary. If the burglary offense did not involve property damage, then it is a Class 3 felony. A conviction can lead to a prison sentence between two and five years as well as criminal fines up to $25,000.
If the burglary offense also involved property damage, then it is a Class 2 felony. A conviction can lead to a prison sentence between three and seven years as well as criminal fines up to $25,000.
At this juncture, it is worth noting that burglary can become a Class 1 felony. But this enhanced charge only applies to burglary offenses committed in a school, day care facility, or place of worship.
Residential Burglary
720 ILCS 5/19-3 supplies the Illinois laws against residential burglary. There are different versions of residential burglary under this section.
First, a person commits residential burglary if they:
- Enter or remain within another person’s residence, knowingly and without authority; and
- Demonstrate the intent to commit theft or a felony crime.
Second, a person commits residential burglary if they:
- Gain entry to another person’s residence by falsely representing an affiliation with a government unit or construction, telecommunications, or utility company; and
- Demonstrate the intent to commit theft or a felony crime; or
- Facilitate the commission of theft or a felony crime.
Section 19-3 also details the Illinois punishment for residential burglary. Under this section, residential burglary is a Class 1 felony. A conviction can lead to a prison sentence between four and 15 years as well as criminal fines up to $25,000.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in matters of criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com or by completing an online form.