Burglary Defense Attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Walking Up to a Door, or a Car Door, Changes Everything Legally

Maybe it was a car parked outside an apartment off Common Street, or a shed in someone’s backyard, or a door you knew was unlocked. Whatever the circumstances, the moment you entered a structure or a vehicle that was not yours, without permission, with any intent to commit a theft or a felony inside — Louisiana law calls that burglary. It does not matter whether you took anything. It does not matter whether the door was already open. The entry itself, combined with the intent, is the crime.

Calcasieu Parish has seen a wave of vehicle burglaries in recent years — commonly called “car hopping” — where individuals move through parking lots and neighborhoods checking for unlocked vehicles. Law enforcement and local news outlets have covered this pattern extensively, and the District Attorney’s Office has responded by prosecuting these cases aggressively, even when the value of what was taken is minimal or nothing was taken at all.

I have defended burglary cases at the 14th Judicial District Court for over 17 years. I know how these cases are built from a single moment of opportunity, and I know how to challenge the intent element that the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. If you are facing a burglary charge in Lake Charles or Calcasieu Parish, the facts of how you entered, why, and what evidence supports intent are where this case will be decided.

If you haven’t already spoken to an attorney, you’re already behind. Contact Colonna Law Firm now.

What Is Simple Burglary in Louisiana?

Simple burglary (La. R.S. 14:62) is the unauthorized entry of any dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft inside. Critically, simple burglary does not require force — entering through an open door or unlocked window still qualifies if the entry was unauthorized and the intent element is present. Simple burglary is a felony in Louisiana, carrying up to 12 years at hard labor and a fine of up to $2,000.

The intent element is the most contested part of nearly every burglary case I handle. The State must prove the defendant intended to commit a felony or theft at the time of entry — not that the defendant formed that intent after entering. Cases where someone entered a structure for an innocent or ambiguous reason, and the intent to commit a crime is inferred rather than proven, present real defense opportunities.

Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling

In the 14th JDC, an allegation of entering a home is often automatically charged as a ‘Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling’ (La. R.S. 14:62.2). However, not every entry involves an intent to steal or commit a felony. Under Louisiana law, if the state cannot prove that you entered with the specific intent to commit a crime, the charge must be downgraded to Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling (La. R.S. 14:62.3).

The difference is stark: while 14:62.2 carries a mandatory year at hard labor, 14:62.3 is a separate classification that often allows for broader defense strategies, including negotiated resolutions that avoid the severe sentencing floors of burglary statutes. My defense strategy centers on forcing the prosecution to meet their burden on the ‘intent’ element. If they cannot prove your state of mind at the moment of entry, we aggressively push to reduce your exposure to the lesser charge.”

Vehicle Burglary — The “Car Hopping” Problem in Calcasieu Parish

In Calcasieu Parish, the act of ‘checking door handles’—often called ‘car hopping’—is prosecuted under La. R.S. 14:62 (Simple Burglary). Many clients are surprised to learn that entering a vehicle with the intent to steal is a felony, even if no property is taken. Because these cases often rely on thin circumstantial evidence, such as proximity to a vehicle or poor-quality surveillance, I challenge the State’s proof of the ‘intent’ element. I have specific experience at the 14th JDC dismantling the connection between my clients and the vehicle in question, forcing the State to meet its strict burden of proof on both the entry and the required criminal intent.

Lake Charles and surrounding Calcasieu Parish communities have experienced repeated waves of vehicle burglaries, frequently involving groups moving through neighborhoods and parking areas checking door handles on unlocked cars. Local news coverage of this pattern has increased pressure on law enforcement to make arrests, which means these cases are sometimes built on thin evidence — proximity, surveillance footage of uncertain quality, or circumstantial association with other suspects.

I evaluate every vehicle burglary case for the strength of the State’s evidence on both the entry and intent elements, and I have specific experience challenging vehicle burglary cases at the 14th JDC where the evidence connecting a specific defendant to a specific vehicle is weaker than the initial arrest suggested.

What Is Aggravated Burglary in Louisiana?

Aggravated burglary (La. R.S. 14:60) is a significantly more serious charge than simple burglary. It applies when the unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, vehicle, or structure is accomplished while armed with a dangerous weapon, or when the person arms themselves after entering, or when the person commits a battery on any person while in the structure. Aggravated burglary carries up to 30 years at hard labor.

The presence of a weapon — even one not used or displayed during the entry itself — can elevate a simple burglary charge to aggravated burglary. I examine the specific facts of every weapon allegation closely, including whether the weapon was actually possessed during the relevant time period and whether the State’s characterization of the object as a “dangerous weapon” is legally supportable.

Defenses to Burglary Charges in Louisiana

Burglary charges in the 14th JDC are often overcharged by the prosecution. While Simple Burglary (La. R.S. 14:62) requires proof of intent to commit a felony or theft, Unauthorized Entry (La. R.S. 14:62.3) does not. My defense strategy focuses on attacking the state’s evidence of ‘intent.’ If the state cannot prove you entered with the purpose of committing a crime, we push to reduce a 12-year felony exposure to a charge that carries significantly lower risk. Whether facing Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling (La. R.S. 14:62.2) or the more severe Aggravated Burglary (La. R.S. 14:60), my goal is to strip away the state’s assumptions and hold them to their strict burden of proof for every element of the statute.

• Lack of intent — the State must prove intent to commit a felony or theft at the moment of entry; ambiguous or innocent reasons for entry defeat this element
• Authorized entry — if you had permission, a prior invitation, or a reasonable belief you were authorized to enter, that defeats the unauthorized entry element
• Misidentification — surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts in burglary cases, particularly nighttime vehicle burglaries, are frequently unreliable
• Insufficient evidence connecting the defendant to the specific entry — proximity to a scene or association with other suspects is not the same as proof of entry
• Challenging the weapon element in aggravated burglary cases — disputing possession, characterization, or timing of an alleged weapon

I have handled burglary cases at the 14th JDC ranging from vehicle burglary involving minimal property loss to aggravated burglary cases involving weapons allegations. I handle every case personally from the first consultation through trial or resolution.

Why Hire Jacob Colonna for a Burglary Charge in Lake Charles?

Nobody hires me when they’re having a great day. A burglary charge — even one involving a vehicle and nothing taken — is a felony in Louisiana that puts your record and your future at risk. The intent element is where these cases are won or lost, and building that defense requires understanding exactly how the State plans to prove what was in your mind at the moment of entry.

I have practiced at the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish for more than 17 years. I understand the local patterns in how burglary and vehicle burglary cases are investigated and charged, and I know where the evidentiary weaknesses typically are. I handle every case personally, meaning the attorney you meet at the consultation is the attorney who appears in court.

Frequently Asked Questions