Suspected Burglar Beaten by Aspiring MMA Fighter

Burglars face many risks when entering a home. There could be someone inside the house, and many of them rely on weapons such as guns and knives to protect themselves. But one man relied only on “God and his hands” to fight off a burglar who entered his sister’s home in Wilton Manors, near Fort Lauderdale.

On September 27, the burglar picked the wrong home to enter, as he was left black and blue after coming face-to-face with an aspiring MMA fighter. The fighter was staying at his sister’s home while she and her partner were out of town. While the man had never been in an official MMA fight, he used techniques used in his training to severely beat an intruder, a 31-year-old man.

The fighter was asleep when he was woken up by his nephew, who told him that a stranger was downstairs in the living room. The fighter proceeded to fight off the burglar, leaving him severely bruised and bloodied. A police mugshot showed the burglar with black eyes and cuts around his eyes and forehead.

The burglar was arrested. He told officers from the Broward County Sheriff’s office that he had been drinking at a nearby club. He thought he had entered a friend’s house and had entered the fighter’s sister’s home by mistake. The man appeared in court a few days later and was visibly bruised and bloodied. He is being held in Broward Jail with bond set at $20,000.

The fighter says he has no regrets about how he handled the situation. He said you should “protect your family.”

Defenses to Burglary

If you have been accused of burglary, here are some defenses to consider:

• Lack of intent to commit a crime. Intent is a required element of burglary. The prosecution must prove that the defendant intended to commit a crime, such as theft or assault at the moment of entry. In this case, there was no mention of the man entering the home to commit an actual crime. If no intent existed at entry, it is not burglary.
• Mistaken or accidental entry. If the defendant entered by mistake, such as wandering into a structure unintentionally or confusing a home with someone else’s, then burglary intent cannot be proven. The entry was accidental and lacked criminal purpose, which is a defense that could be used in this case as well.
• Consent or invitation. Burglary requires unauthorized entry. If the owner or occupant gave permission to enter, that consent can defeat the charge.
• Public or open premises. Entering an area open to the public, such as a store during business hours, is not burglary. This is true even if the person later commits a crime inside, although it may lead to a separate theft or assault charge.

Contact Us Today

Burglary is often a felony under Florida law. But there are three different degrees of felonies, and the one a person ends up getting charged with depends on the circumstances.

If you’re facing burglary charges in Florida, it’s important to know your rights and the legal challenges you could face. A Fort Myers burglary attorney from Hollander & Hanuka can help. We understand how serious burglary charges can be under Florida law. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (239) 332-3300.

Source:

the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/mma-fighter-home-invasion-florida-b2838314.html