Criminal Trespass

Practice Description

When an individual intentionally enters or remains on someone else’s property without permission and causes damages to objects on the property, that individual can be charged with criminal trespass. If you have been convicted of a criminal trespass in Atlanta, you could face up to a year in prison. This could cause you to lose wages, lose employment and have your reputation negatively impacted in your community.

To make sure your legal rights are protected and that you are not unfairly treated by prosecutors, you should strongly consider hiring a experienced Atlanta criminal trespass attorney to defend your case.

Types of Criminal Trespass in Atlanta

A criminal trespass charge can be given out for a variety of reasons. The following list details the different types of criminal trespasses that can occur in Atlanta.

• Unlawful entry onto someone else’s property
• Intentionally causing damage to someone else’s property
• Entering into someone else’s vehicle, aircraft or watercraft without explicit permission from the owner of the vehicle
• Remaining in someone else’s vehicle, aircraft or watercraft after the owner has told you to depart
• A minor has given permission to an individual to enter their parent or guardian’s property without the expressed consent of the parent or guardian
• Intentionally defacing or damaging memorials, grave markers or monuments belonging to the United States or Confederate States militaries

According to O.C.G.A. §16-7-21, getting charged with any of these can lead to up to $1,000 in fines and up to 12 months in jail. The misdemeanor will also be placed on your criminal record.

With a criminal trespass on your record, it can be much harder to get gainful employment, receive a quality loan and be a respected member of your community.

What To Do After A Criminal Trespass Conviction in Atlanta

If you have been charged with a criminal trespass, make sure you cooperate with all of the authorities involved. While a criminal trespass is only a misdemeanor, getting into an altercation with a police officer can quickly land you with a felony charge.

Next, it’s important that you get in touch with an experienced criminal trespass attorney as soon as possible. It could be possible that you did not know you were trespassing due to a lack of proper signage or a variety of other reasons.

Contact Our Team of Experienced Atlanta Criminal Trespass Attorneys Today

If you have been charged with criminal trespass, contact criminal defense lawyers Pat McDonough and Trinity Hundredmark for a confidential case evaluation. While we always aim to reach a resolution outside of the courtroom, the attorneys at Andersen, Tate & Carr prepare each case as though it were going to trial.

Our priority is to protect your rights and obtain the best possible outcome in your case. Call Andersen, Tate & Carr today at 770-822-0900 for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can help you.