Indianapolis Trespassing Lawyer
If you own property, then you probably know about trespassing laws. Trespassing refers to a conscious decision to enter someone else’s space (house, land, or car, for example) without their permission. In Indiana, you could be charged with trespassing if you:
- Knowingly enter another person’s property after being denied entry
- Refuse to leave another person’s property after being asked
- Enter a vehicle with a person who is not authorized to drive it
- Enters the property of an agricultural operation with facilities used to produce crops, livestock, poultry, or timber without permission
- Interfere with another person’s property without their consent
Trespassing is typically a Class A misdemeanor. The punishment may include a fine of up to $1,000 as well as one year in jail. However, there are cases in which the charge can be elevated to a Level 6 felony. A person can be charged with this felony if they engage in trespassing on a scientific research facility, a key facility, a facility belonging to a public utility, on a school bus, or on other school property. The punishment is a $10,000 fine and up to three years in prison.
As you can see, trespassing can result in serious charges. Rigney Law LLC can help you get the best outcome possible. Contact our Indianapolis trespassing lawyer to better understand the legal options available to you based on your situation.
What Happens if You Are Charged With Trespassing?
Keep in mind that just because you were arrested on another person’s property does not mean that you committed trespassing. A judge or jury won’t find you guilty based on that alone. There are some things you can do to lessen your charges or get them dropped altogether.
- Preserve evidence. If you have any evidence showing that you had permission to be on the property, you need to preserve it. For example, if you have text messages, email, or voicemails supporting your legal ability to be on the property, it can work in your favor. If you were not arrested on the property, an alibi could be very strong.
- Don’t contact the property owner. You may want to contact the owner to explain yourself and clear up any misunderstandings, but you need to avoid doing so. When you reach out to the victim in a criminal case, this is called witness intimidation. This makes it harder to beat your case and could even result in additional criminal charges.
- Contact a lawyer. After an arrest for trespassing, you need to contact a criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer has the knowledge to help defend your case and convince the prosecution to offer a deal.
Contact Rigney Law LLC Today
People can be very protective of their property, so if you try to take control without their permission, they can get upset and press charges. Trespassing should not be taken lightly.
Rigney Law LLC understands how a trespassing charge can change your life. Learn more by scheduling a consultation with our Indianapolis trespassing lawyer. Call (317) 623-0989 or fill out the online form to get started.
