Virginia Robbery, Burglary, and Arson Lawyers
Helping residents in Alexandria, Fairfax and the entire Northern Virginia area
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Serving residents of Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, Arlington County, Alexandria, City of Fredericksburg, City of Manassas Park, City of Manassas, City of Falls Church, Town of Vienna, Town of Herndon, Town of Occoquan, Town of Dumfries, and all of Virginia.
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Helping you fight back.
Whether you have been charged with a Criminal Offense, Serious Criminal Traffic Offense, or have been injured in an Accident that was not your fault, our First-Class Attorneys are not going to let you become a victim! With our experience, we will fight back, with you and for you, to get the results you deserve.
YOU CAN’T AFFORD A CRIMINAL RECORD
When you trust your Robbery, Burglary, and Arson charges to our experienced attorneys, we will work closely with you, from the beginning, to explore all aspects of your case, including:
- Dismissal of your Charge
- Reduction of your Charge
- Possible Defenses
- Plea Bargain Options
- Trial to find you “Not Guilty”
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HOW VIRGINIA LAW APPLIES TO YOU!
Having handled Thousands of Criminal Offense Charges in all the Courts of Northern Virginia, we understand how critical your job and/or your security clearance are to your livelihood and your family. If you are convicted of Robbery, Burglary, or Arson, you are facing not only significant jail time and a substantial fine; but you will also receive a Permanent Criminal Record with the FBI and Homeland Security and you could potentially lose your job, your security clearance, future employment opportunities and your future!
NovaLegalGroup, P.C. also helps residents of Virginia with Legal Matters in: Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Fairfax, Mclean, Oakton, Reston and Springfield.
In order for the Commonwealth of Virginia to prove the charge of Robbery, they must prove:
1. That you intended to steal; and
2. That you took property; and
3. That the taking was from another or in their presence; and
4. That the taking was against the will of the owner or possessor; and
5. That the taking was accomplished by violence to the person; intimidation; the threat of serious bodily harm; the threat of presenting a firearm; or, the threat or presenting of a deadly weapon.
In order for the Commonwealth to prove the charge of Burglary, they must prove:
1. That you broke and entered the dwelling house of another; and
2. That you did so in the nighttime; and
3. That you did so with the intent to commit larceny or another felony.
In order for the Commonwealth to prove the charge of Arson, they must prove:
1. That you burned a house, vessel, occupied church, or any other type of dwelling; and
2. That you acted with malice
If you are found guilty of Robbery, Burglary, or Arson, the punishment can be very severe. Robbery is a FELONY that is punishable by up to LIFE in prison. Burglary is also a FELONY that is punishable by up to 20 YEARS IN JAIL. If the Dwelling was occupied, Arson is a FELONY, punishable by up to LIFE in prison, and a fine of up to $100,000! If the Dwelling was not occupied, it is still a FELONY, punishable by anywhere from 2 YEARS IN JAIL, UP TO 10 YEARS IN JAIL, and a fine of up to $100,000!
In addition to the significant Discovery, Due Diligence and Legal Work we do to get your Robbery, Burglary, or Arson case Dismissed, your participation in appropriate programs and classes prior to Court can significantly increase your odds of an even more successful outcome … such as:
- Anger Management Classes
- Volunteer Community Service
- Letters of Recommendation
- Alternative to Jail Programs
Our robbery, burglary and arson attorneys have experience successfully handling Robbery, Burglary, or Arson charges in all the Courts of Northern Virginia, so let us help YOU!
With our experience in criminal defense, we have successfully handled thousands of cases, many like yours. We make you 3 GUARANTEES that no other law firms we know of in Northern Virginia offer:
OUR 3 UNIQUE GUARANTEES
- When you call us, you will always speak personally with one of our experienced and successful attorneys about your case, NOT a paralegal or secretary!
- We always design a customized “Plan of Action” just for your case and not just a cookie-cutter template!
- We always provide you with a personalized “Payment Plan” to meet your financial needs!
The key difference is the use of force or fear. Robbery is a theft crime committed directly against a person using violence, threats, or intimidation. Burglary is a property crime that involves unlawfully entering a building or structure with the intent to commit a crime (like theft or assault) inside. Robbery is a crime against a person; burglary is a crime against a building.
‘Breaking’ doesn’t require smashing a window or door. It can be as simple as opening an unlocked door, pushing open a closed window, or even entering through fraud or trickery. ‘Entering’ occurs the moment any part of the body, or a tool controlled by the person, crosses the threshold of the building.
Robbery is a serious felony in Virginia, punishable by five years to life in prison. If a firearm or deadly weapon is used or displayed (armed robbery), the penalties become even more severe, often with mandatory minimum sentences that must be served in addition to the sentence for the robbery itself.
The law treats burning an occupied dwelling much more severely because of the risk to human life. Arson of an occupied dwelling or building is a Class 2 felony, punishable by 20 years to life in prison. Arson of an unoccupied building is a Class 3 felony, punishable by 5 to 20 years, reflecting the lesser (but still serious) risk.
Generally, no. Entering a public place like a store during business hours is not ‘breaking and entering’ because you have permission to be there. However, if you remain in the store after it closes with the intent to steal, or enter a private, ’employees only’ area, you could be charged with statutory burglary.
Carjacking is a specific type of robbery involving the theft of a motor vehicle. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-58.1, it’s defined as taking a vehicle from another person’s possession or control by violence, force, or threat. It is a very serious felony, punishable by 15 years to life in prison.
Common defenses to arson include challenging the cause of the fire (arguing it was accidental), mistaken identity or alibi (proving you were elsewhere), and lack of intent (arguing you did not act maliciously). An attorney may also challenge the forensic evidence used by the fire marshal to prove an accelerant was used.
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