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A suspect who forcibly enters a private residence without the owner's consent, but specific intent could not be proven. The suspect should be charged with?

A) breaking and entering
B) criminal trespass
C) burglary
D) unlawful forced entry

User PKV
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

A suspect who forcibly enters a private residence without the owner's consent and without provable intent should be charged with criminal trespass, since this charge doesn't require the proof of intent needed for burglary.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a suspect forcibly enters a private residence without the owner's consent, and specific intent cannot be proven, the most appropriate charge would likely be B) criminal trespass. While burglary typically requires proof of intent to commit a crime within, criminal trespass generally involves unauthorized entry onto someone else's property. Without the proof of intent to commit a further crime, the charge of breaking and entering or burglary may not stand up in court. Unlawful forced entry is not a standard legal term for a specific crime; it describes the action taken but does not correspond to a legal charge.

User Jamie Aden
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