Athens Criminal Trespass Lawyer

Have You Been Charged With Criminal Trespassing in Georgia?

Criminal trespass is a property crime, punishable by jail time and other penalties. To be charged with this offense, law enforcement must only establish that you intentionally entered another individual's property without permission-even if you did not damage or steal anything.

Find out how you can fight trespassing charges with our aggressive Athens criminal defense attorney.

Criminal Trespassing Charges

If an owner asks you to leave his or her property, or you enter property without permission, you can be arrested for criminal trespass. Causing more than $500 worth of damage to property is also grounds for a criminal trespass charge. This crime is a misdemeanor offense in Georgia, punishable by up to one year in jail as well as fines.

In addition to these court-imposed penalties, you could also face consequences in your personal life. With a criminal conviction on your record, applying for jobs can be more difficult. The property owner could also pursue a civil lawsuit against you, which can result in financial penalties.

Challenging a Criminal Trespass Case

Depending on your situation, there may be a number of potential defenses that can be implemented to fight your criminal trespass charges.

Some situations which can be used in defense include:

• If you were asked to leave the property, and complied, your defense lawyer may ask for the charges to be dropped.
• Your lawyer can challenge your case if there were no signs or fences on the property, and you did not know it was private.
• If there was damage to the property, the property owner will have to prove that you are somehow responsible for it. Your attorney may demonstrate it would have occurred regardless of your presence on the property.

Fighting a criminal charge is a worthwhile investment in your future. If you would like to know more about fighting your case, please contact our Athens criminal trespass lawyer at (706) 705-5122.