Quote Quoting roxie_g93
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I would like to know if you think it is worth trying to gather up the money to get a lawyer or if we should just use the public defender.
Not sure it'll make too much difference either way - there's not a lot of maneuvering to be done when you break into someone else's house - REGARDLESS of the reason or intent. There just really aren't a lot of possible defenses to choose from. In some cases, the PD may be more likely to be able to predict sentencing (since they have a TON of experience with such cases), but if the money is available, a private attorney often has the time for more "hand holding" - but you pay heartily for that time.

Also, does anyone know what he might be punished with as far as jail time?
It's likely to START with possibilities of PRISON time (felonies), measured in years, and his attorney would then attempt to bargain down from there (maybe to misdemeanors, which can be up to a year in the county jail for each in addition to fines and/or probation).

Do we have any hope?
It's always a crap shoot. Again, not a lot of defenses to this one.

He did not go in with the intention to steal or harm.
Regardless, he went IN, when he was told he wasn't welcome in. And, although police arrested for residential burglary and assault with a deadly weapon, it's possible that the prosecution could charge for other things as well.

(As well as the observation that he's lucky he wasn't just shot dead on the spot.)