According to Penal Code Sections 459 and 460, burglary can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. First degree burglary includes burglary of a residence, while second degree burglary refers to other structures, such as stores and businesses. As a felony, burglary charges are punishable by up to six years in prison, up to ten thousand dollars in fines, and are considered a “strike” according to California's Three Strikes Law.
Common “residences” in regards to burglary, according to California law, include an inhabited house or boat, a trailer coach, or an inhabited hotel room. Any other structure used as a dwelling may be considered a residence.
Second degree burglary, commercial burglary, may be charged by the State as a felony or a misdemeanor. A defendant who has previously received a conviction for a theft crime and is charged with another theft will likely receive a felony charge. Conviction of felony second-degree burglary carries a prison term of up to three years, and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. Misdemeanor second-degree burglary convictions carry the potential punishment of up to 1 year in county jail and a fine of up to one thousand dollars.
Notably, there is a difference between shoplifting under Penal Code 459.5 and burglary. Shoplifting includes entering a commercial establishment, while it is open during normal business hours, with the intent to steal property worth $950 or less. In some ways, shoplifting is a subset of burglary. Depending on the facts of a case, some defendants may in fact be able to reduce their burglary conviction to a shoplifting conviction or other lesser crime. A skilled burglary defense lawyer in Riverside or San Bernardino County can negotiate with the prosecution on your behalf.