Burglary / B&E in Bedford County

Burglary defendants in Bedford County face significantly steeper odds than the statewide average. With a conviction rate of 66.7 percent against a dismissal rate of 33.3 percent, Bedford County prosecutes these cases more aggressively than Virginia overall, where dismissals occur in 58.2 percent of burglary cases. No defendants in Bedford County were acquitted, meaning convictions came either through plea or verdict. The 25-percentage-point gap below the statewide dismissal rate suggests Bedford County juries or judges handle burglary charges differently than their counterparts across the state.

The majority of cases—66.7 percent—ended in pleas, indicating most defendants resolved charges without trial. Charge reductions were rare, occurring in just 6.9 percent of cases, and when they happened, they typically became either trespass charges or statutory burglary, a lesser included offense. Defendants convicted faced median sentences of 1,825 days (roughly five years), though the average of 2,235 days shows some received substantially longer terms. Cases typically reached disposition within four months, with most resolving between two and five months from filing.