Allen Dawes was arrested by law enforcement officers for an alleged burglary of the First St. John’s Church in York, Pennsylvania. Police say Dawes broke into the church and stole the collection box, which had been set out for church members to make donations to those less fortunate.

Law enforcement was able to track down Dawes as the burglar because Dawes left his birth certificate at the church. Police say that in addition to stealing from the collection box, Dawes talked on his phone, ate cereal, and smoked cigarettes in the church. Under California Law, burglary is codified under penal code section 459. It defines burglary as “entering a structure with the intent to commit a felony (or a petty theft) once inside”.

It is important to differentiate burglary cases from robbery cases. Cases of robbery occur when someone takes something from someone’s person with force or threat of force. Armed robbery occurs in the same situation, but with a deadly weapon. In this case, the taking of the drugs was from a structure (a pharmacy), so the crime is burglary.

If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime, it is imperative that you hire an aggressive, Southern California criminal defense lawyer. Hiring an experienced criminal defense law firm can greatly increase your chances of keeping your freedom, and ensuring you receive the lowest possible sentence. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been helping people for over 30 years. Please feel free to contact Wallin & Klarich to discuss your case. You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 877-466-5245 or go to our website at www.wklaw.com for more information.