Burglary is a felony in the State of Washington. Criminal Trespass can be either a Gross Misdemeanor or a simple Misdemeanor in the State of Washington.
Washington State Law defines Burglary and Trespassing as the following:
A person is guilty of Burglary in the First Degree in Washington State if, with intent to commit a crime against another person or property therein, he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a building and if, while entering or otherwise physically in the building or during an immediate flight from the building, the actor or another participant in the crime is either armed with a deadly weapon, or assaults another person. Burglary in the First Degree is a Class A felony. A person is guilty of Burglary in the Second Degree in Washington State if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, he enters or remains unlawfully in a building other than a vehicle or a dwelling. Burglary in the Second Degree is a Class B felony. A person is guilty of Residential Burglary in Washington State 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. Residential Burglary is a Class B felony, but is considered a more serious criminal offense than Second Degree Burglary, notwithstanding.
In contrast to Burglary, a person is guilty of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree in Washington State if he/ she simply knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building. Criminal Trespass in the First Degree is a gross misdemeanor. A person is guilty of Criminal Trespass in the Second degree in Washington State if he/ she knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises of another under circumstances not constituting Criminal Trespass in the First Degree. Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree is a misdemeanor.
Trespassing is often a simple misunderstanding between parties. People can sometimes forget their badges, or their keys, or they do not see any signs barring them from being on public and/or private property. Regardless, Criminal Trespassing is not looked upon favorably by prospective employers, landlords or any other entities checking an individual’s background and criminal history.
The Seattle criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys is specifically dedicated to providing aggressive representation for those charged with, or otherwise accused of, crime in Western Washington. If you or a loved one is charged with a crime in King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, Kitsap County, Thurston County or one of the following cities or towns: Algona, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bonney Lake, Bothell, Burien, Des Moines, Duvall, Edmonds, Enumclaw, Everett, Federal Way, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, North Bend, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Sea Tac, Seattle, Shoreline, Snohomish, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, and/or Woodinville, or any other city or town in Western Washington, call the Seattle criminal lawyers that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.