Does double jeopardy apply if a defendant is convicted of larceny and later tried for burglary?

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In this scenario, the correct answer highlights a key principle of double jeopardy, which protects individuals from being tried for the same crime after being convicted. Double jeopardy applies only when the second prosecution involves the same offense that has already been adjudicated.

When considering larceny and burglary, it's important to note that these are distinct crimes with different elements. Larceny involves the unlawful taking and carrying away of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. Burglary, on the other hand, is defined as entering a building or structure with the intent to commit theft or another felony therein. Since each crime has different required elements, conviction for one does not preclude prosecution for the other. The facts surrounding the crimes may be similar (e.g., a theft occurring during a break-in), but the legal definitions and requirements for proving each crime differ significantly.

Therefore, since the prosecution for burglary involves elements not required to prove larceny, double jeopardy does not apply in this case, allowing for a separate trial on the burglary charge after a conviction for larceny.

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