Every so often, a real-life criminal investigation may play out similar to how fantasy television investigations play out. Such an investigation happened in Washington earlier this week, albeit not in hasty television series fashion. Depression-era glassware and a few other items were stolen from a Whidbey, Washington property approximately two years ago. “Two cigarette butts were found outside the burglarized building. They were sent to the Washington State Crime lab for DNA testing.” The results came back in May of this year and the police found a match to an Everett, Washington man who has been previously arrested for felony drug conviction. Up until last week, the man could not be found. He was recently spotted by police at a known “drug house” in Clinton, Washington, at which time he was arrested for burglary in the second degree. If convicted, the alleged burglar could be facing a year of jail time.

Burglary in Washington State

In Washington, there are technically three different categories of burglary: burglary in the first degree, residential burglary, and burglary in the second degree. The man in the scenario above was charged with burglary in the second degree, which Washington state law defines as:

• “A person is guilty of burglary in the second degree if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a building other than a vehicle or a dwelling.”

The man in the scenario above burgled a garage, which does not meet the threshold of for a residential burglary, which states:

• "A person is guilty of residential burglary if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, the person enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling other than a vehicle."

Both residential burglary and burglary in the second degree are a class B felony, but for sentencing purposes, a residential burglary is to be considered more serious than burglary in the second degree.

Burglary in King County

According to the Seattle Police Department, in 2018 alone there are have so far been 1,097 robberies and 5,326 burglaries in King County. For all of 2017, there were 7,739 burglaries. These statistics do not break down which categories of burglary but simply show the type of crime recorded.

Impact of A Burglary Conviction

A burglary conviction can have very serious consequences attached, not only for jail time but for your future. This kind of crime can impact your employment record, provide problems for college admission, and can potentially be a felony that stays on your record forever. If you or a loved one have been arrested for burglary in the Seattle area, you need to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately.

Lawyer Steve Karimi is a former prosecutor who uses his insights into legal strategies to now fight for the rights of the accused. Mr. Karimi is a top-rated criminal defense attorney in the Seattle area and will provide an aggressive defense against your burglary charges. Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today.