Harrisburg Burglary Attorney

Criminal Defense Focused on Challenging the Prosecution’s Evidence

A burglary charge in Pennsylvania is a felony. That means state prison time, a permanent record, and barriers to employment, housing, and professional licensing that can follow a conviction for years. At The Dorward Law Firm, we defend clients facing burglary charges in Harrisburg and throughout Central Pennsylvania, and we bring over a decade of criminal defense experience to every case. Shawn Dorward applies forensic science training and cross-examination skill developed across hundreds of criminal cases to challenge how the state built its case. He does not just focus on how to negotiate around it.

The process moves quickly after an arrest. Engaging a defense attorney early preserves more legal options, including the ability to challenge the arrest itself, seek suppression of improperly obtained evidence, and shape how charges are formally set. The sooner you act, the more room we have to work.

Contact us today for a free consultation. Call (717) 429-0411 to speak with our Harrisburg burglary defense team.

Pennsylvania Burglary Law Under 18 Pa.C.S. 3502

Pennsylvania defines burglary under 18 Pa.C.S. 3502 as entering a building or occupied structure with the intent to commit a crime inside. The intended crime doesn’t have to be theft, and it doesn’t have to be completed. The prosecution must prove only that criminal intent existed at the moment of entry. Courts regularly use circumstantial evidence to make that showing.

The statute grades burglary based on two questions: whether the structure is adapted for overnight accommodations, and whether anyone was present at the time of entry. In all but one scenario, burglary is a felony of the first degree.

• Felony of the First Degree (F1): Applies to any entry into a structure adapted for overnight accommodations (whether or not anyone was present), and to any entry into a non-overnight structure while a person is present. An F1 conviction carries a maximum of 20 years in state prison and a $25,000 fine.
• Felony of the Second Degree (F2): Applies only when the structure wasn’t adapted for overnight accommodations and no one was present. This reduction disappears if the intended crime was to steal controlled substances or designer drugs. An F2 conviction carries a maximum of 10 years and a $25,000 fine.

“Occupied structure” is broader than most people expect. A closed business with no one physically inside can still qualify because the structure is adapted for conducting business. Pennsylvania Sentencing Guidelines assign each burglary scenario an offense gravity score, and the recommended sentence range shifts further based on a defendant’s prior record score.

Courts infer intent from circumstantial evidence: tools such as lock picks or pry bars, prior surveillance of the property, disabled security systems, or wearing a disguise. The statute also provides statutory defenses: that the building was abandoned, that the premises were open to the public, or that the defendant was licensed or privileged to enter. Pennsylvania law also bars sentencing a defendant for both burglary and the intended underlying offense unless that offense is itself a first- or second-degree felony.

Why Harrisburg Clients Trust The Dorward Law Firm for Burglary Defense

Burglary cases turn on evidence: how it was obtained, whether intent can truly be inferred from the facts presented, and whether the structure meets the statutory definition. These are the pressure points that can affect a case’s trajectory. We handle criminal defense exclusively, which means every strategy we develop is built around the specific demands of the Pennsylvania criminal justice system.

Forensic Science Training & Cross-Examination Skill

Shawn Dorward holds an instructor rating in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. It is a level of forensic science training that exceeds what most Pennsylvania police officers carry. That foundation shapes how he approaches evidence challenges across criminal cases, including how law enforcement gathered and documented the evidence the prosecution intends to use against you. He has been recognized as a forceful cross-examiner who has pushed law enforcement witnesses to acknowledge weaknesses in their cases before the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and beyond.

Credentials & Professional Standing

Shawn Dorward is admitted to practice before all Pennsylvania courts, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. We also maintain access to expert witnesses and relationships within the legal community that support the defense at every stage: from challenging the sufficiency of an arrest through plea negotiation and trial.

We offer payment plans and free consultations. If you’re facing burglary charges in Harrisburg or anywhere in Central Pennsylvania, call (717) 429-0411 or reach out online to speak with us directly.