Bellevue Burglary Attorneys
Accused of Breaking and Entering in Bellevue?
Burglary, otherwise known as “breaking and entering,” is a serious offense in Washington State. The law does not treat these charges lightly, as the crime of burglary involves illegal entrance and other crimes. As such, you can expect prosecutors to work diligently to convict you of burglary as well as other offenses you allegedly committed while you were on the reported victim’s property.
That said, burglary is defined as unlawfully entering or remaining on someone’s property with the intent to commit a crime against a person or their property. For these reasons, burglary charges tend to be accompanied by other charges. This is because a person who commits burglary already has the intent to commit a crime, and many times, their intentions turn into actions. Thus, the person would have committed both burglary and their intended crime, hence why we said burglary is generally charged in addition to other crimes that occurred on the victim’s property.
With this in mind, we strongly encourage you to retain powerhouse legal defense from our Bellevue burglary lawyers. With 40 collective years of experience and a track record for successful case outcomes, you can rest assured that you are in good hands at Veitch Ault Defense.
Is Burglary a Felony in Washington State?
Burglary is a felony in the state of Washington, with the exception of making or having burglary tools, which is a gross misdemeanor. Depending on the circumstances of the alleged crime, you could be looking at class B felony charges or class A felony charges for burglary in Washington. To give you a better idea, see the degrees of burglary below:
- Burglary in the first degree: First-degree burglary, or “burglary 1,” occurs when a person unlawfully enters or remains on someone else’s property with the intent to commit a crime against such person or their property while armed with a deadly weapon. Further, the deadly weapon requirement isn’t necessary if an assault occurs instead. Burglary 1 in Washington State is a class A felony punishable by up to a maximum life sentence and a $50,000 fine.
- Residential burglary: The elements of residential burglary include entering or remaining in another person’s dwelling (other than a vehicle) with intent to commit a crime against such person or their property. Residential burglary in Washington State is a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
- Burglary in the second degree: Second-degree burglary, or “burglary 2,” in Washington State is committed when a person unlawfully enters or remains on someone else’s property (that is NOT a dwelling or vehicle) with the intent to commit a crime against such person or their property. Burglary 2 in Washington State is also a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Unlike burglary 1, however, burglary 2 doesn’t involve a deadly weapon or assault, and the property that was burglarized is neither a home nor a car.
- Making or having burglar tools: This crime generally occurs when a person either makes, causes to be made, or possesses an item with the intent to use it for burglary or allows someone else to use it for burglary. Specifically, “any engine, machine, tool, false key, picklock, bit, nippers, or implement adapted, designed, or commonly used for the commission of burglary under circumstances” will be considered burglar tools. Making or having burglar tools is a mere gross misdemeanor in WA punishable up to a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $5000 fine.
As you can see from the penalties above, you could lose your rights, freedom, reputation, and peace of mind upon a burglary conviction. Getting a felony burglary charge in Washington State can derail the life you’ve worked so hard building and tarnish your good name for a long time, if not permanently. Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, fight for the freedom you deserve with the help of our Bellevue burglary defense lawyers at Veitch Ault Defense.
We bring a range of advantages and benefits to the table for our clients, including:
- 40+ years of combined legal experience
- Free initial consultations
- Honest and straightforward communication
- A history of successfully defending criminal cases
- Award-winning team
- Unwavering dedication to providing premium levels of advocacy
- Fierce representation and close guidance every step of the way
Criminal Defense
Contact Us
NHTSA training in both DWI Detection/Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (FST) along with Advanced Roadside Impairment Detection Enforcement (ARIDE)
If you were arrested for DUI anywhere in King County, the first few days matter. You have a short window to protect your license and begin addressing the court case.
Veitch Ault Defense offers free, confidential consultations. You can speak directly with an attorney about your situation, what to expect, and what steps to take next.
Call 425-452-1600 or contact us online to get started.
Integrity. Accountability. Experience.
To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or at 425-452-1600 !
Why Choose Our Burglary Attorneys?
We welcome you to get in touch with our firm online or at 425-452-1600 to discuss your situation and learn how we can help!
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
03 Domestic Violence
04 Harassment
06 Malicious Mischief
07 Minor in Possession
08 Negligent Driving
09 Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer
10 Reckless Driving
11 Resisting Arrest
Client Reviews
“If at any point you find yourself in the need of a professional in Robert's line of work, I cannot urge you enough to contact him and at least have the initial meeting.”
“I hired Rob to represent me and it was the best decision I believe I could have made. He actually won the initial DOL hearing for me (which is rare I understand now), meaning I didn't lose my license for 90 days as most charged people do.”
I have worked with a number of attorneys throughout my lifetime in a number of different capacities. And I definitely consider Rob to be of the highest caliber
I have used Rob & recommended him to other people. Rob is one of the most dedicated & thorough professionals I have encountered. Very skilled & dedicated to his trade.
My only regret is not contacting Rob right after my arrest. This was my first arrest and I had no idea what to do or to expect. Rob is easy to work with.
I did everything Rob wanted me to do and wound up with an absolutely ideal outcome for my circumstances.
I was referred to the Veitch law firm by a friend. Robert was always upfront about the “dance” that had to occur in going to court. This was very helpful.
Rob is very knowledgeable in his field of law and was able to convey to me how we would navigate through the process.
Rob treated my case as if I was his only client. I could tell he put a lot of thought into everything he did to support me. Rob took a lot of the burden off my shoulders, and he helped me every step of the way.
I will continue to and have already recommended Rob Ault, as an attorney to others in my situation. I sincerely believe the outcome we received would not be what it was, had he not been my attorney and on my side.
Good experience, happy with the case outcome, highly recommended. Rob is definitely who you want on your side in a case.
Amazing results, Rob gives you and your family the best legal services in the state. very professional and caring. 100% satisfaction with his services.
Rob successfully fought my DUI down to a Reckless Driving charge, and soon it will be dismissed off my record.
I couldn’t have asked for a better person/attorney on my side. Not only did he help with any and all questions (and I had many) but he answered them with ease and promptly.
Robert Ault did an excellent job representing our college student throughout all the phases of a difficult case over the past year with a DUI charge and plea of not guilty.
I have never had, heard, nor seen any attorney working so hard for their client as Mr. Robert Ault did for me. He has my unwavering support and complete endorsement. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking counsel for DUI/DWI defense.
Rob made a miracle happen in my case, I am glad I chose him. I talked to several other attorneys before him, and they said you are not walking out of this without at least a misdemeanor. Rob got it dismissed on one court day! He is definitely worth every penny.
Bellevue Office
2122 112th Ave. NE, Suite A200
Bellevue, WA 98004
Lynnwood Office
20102 Cedar Valley Rd., Suite 104
Lynnwood, WA 98036
Talk to a King County DUI Defense Attorney Today
Successful Defense of Hundreds of DUI Cases
7 years as Super Lawyer
Your First Initial Consultation Is Free
Dedicated to the Highest Level of Advocacy on Behalf of Their Clients
Each client is given their attorney’s personal cell phone # and can reach out at any time
We Have Successfully Defended Hundreds of DUI Cases
Reach Out to Us as Soon as Possible to Get the Best Solution For Your Case
For a free consultation to discuss your pending case or other legal matters, please call us any time at
or complete our online contact form. Our attorneys will explain the entire process surrounding your charge and remove the fear and uncertainty regarding your arrest. Our team should be your first call if you need a top-rated, dedicated, and responsive DUI/DWI or criminal defense attorney. If success in your legal matters is your only option, we hope that you will place your trust in top-rated Washington State DUI attorney Robert Ault.
Get Started with a Free Consultation