Posted on March 24, 2025 in Violent Crimes

The debate continues regarding whether young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who are convicted of violent crimes really deserve to spend their entire lives in prison. There is plenty of scientific evidence to suggest that no matter how smart or capable a young adult is, the rational part of the brain that governs good judgment is not fully developed until the age of 25.  

Most adults over the age of 25 think with the prefrontal cortex – the brain’s rational area that responds to situations with an awareness of the long-term consequences. Young adults process information with the brain’s amygdala, which is the area that supplies our emotions. Anyone who has ever had a teenager knows that while they often have overwhelming emotions, they are also unable to explain what they were thinking after acting on those emotions.

Because of this, many states – including Maryland – struggle with laws that send young adults to prison for life with no possibility of parole. In many states, even those younger than 18 are tried and convicted under adult criminal laws and sent to prison for life. If you or a loved one are charged with a violent crime like assault, arson, burglary, sexual assault, or robbery, it is extremely important that you speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney.   

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 Posted on March 10, 2025 in Sex Crimes

Most people convicted of a sexual crime must register as sex offenders after completing their sentences. The level of sex offense will determine how long the individual will be required to register as a sex offender. Being required to register as a sex offender can have a detrimental impact on an individual’s life.

The requirements for annual registration require an individual to arrive in person and provide proof of current address and employment, along with other detailed information. It can be almost impossible to find employment as a person on the sex offender registry, as well as extremely difficult to obtain housing.

Most people who are required to register as sex offenders would be extremely relieved to be able to have that status lowered or removed entirely. The only way to know whether this is possible is to speak to a knowledgeable Harford County, MD sex crimes attorney.  

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 Posted on February 21, 2025 in DUI / DWI

Drowsy driving has become one of the primary causes of automobile accidents across the United States. While it is difficult to put a precise number on drowsy-driving crashes, the NHTSA estimates that about 91,000 crashes per year involve drowsy driving. While overly fatigued driving is certainly a problem, it can also result in drivers who have not been drinking alcohol being charged with DUI.

After being awake for 18 hours straight, the effects on reaction time, vigilance, hand-eye coordination, and multi-tasking are comparable to having a BAC of 0.05 percent. After being awake for 20 hours, a driver has the same level of impairment as a person who has a BAC of 0.08 percent (the legal limit in almost every state). So, while drowsy driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is not illegal to drive while overly fatigued.

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 Posted on February 10, 2025 in Drug Crimes

A recently proposed bill in Maryland could expunge some criminal records, primarily for misdemeanor charges and possession of cannabis. The Maryland Clean Slate Act would expunge any court records related to cannabis possession issued prior to July 1, 2023, or when at least three years have passed since the sentencing. If it has been at least seven years since misdemeanor sentencing, those charges could also be eligible for expungement.   

The bill specifically excludes domestic-related criminal offenses and second-degree assault charges. If passed, the public would be unable to access any references to the cases or electronic court records associated with the cases by mid-2027. Media documents would not be redacted, and hardcopy criminal records would not be destroyed.

Over the past five decades, more than 30 million Americans have been arrested at the state or local level for possession of marijuana. If you are currently facing charges for marijuana possession or you have questions regarding how the Maryland Clean Slate Act could affect your criminal record, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable Northern Baltimore County drug crimes lawyer.

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 Posted on January 22, 2025 in DUI / DWI

If you are facing DUI or DWI charges in the state of Maryland, you may be (understandably) very anxious about your future and the outcome of your charges. In the state of Maryland, DUI is charged when a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher. DWI is a lesser charge that is levied when a person’s BAC is 0.07 percent or higher.

In addition to the many legal penalties you may face (jail, fines, license suspension), there are also collateral consequences associated with a DUI conviction. You could lose the job you currently have – particularly if you drive for a living under a CDL license – and could have difficulty obtaining employment. If you are unable to drive, you could be unable to get to and from your job or school.

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 Posted on January 09, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Assault tends to be more common in the state of Maryland than in most other states, with only 4 percent of other states having a higher risk of assault. The rate of assault in Maryland is 6.317 per 1,000 residents, with the western part of the state considered the safest for this type of criminal offense. In some neighborhoods, the chance of being an assault victim in the state is fairly low, at one in 54, while in others, the chances increase dramatically to 1 in 1,224.

The owner of a Towson restaurant was recently assaulted after confronting two men relieving themselves in front of his business. The assault involved one assailant punching the owner and a handgun, which was pointed at the business owner at one point during the altercation. While the assault was caught on video, the suspects have yet to be located. If you have been charged with assault, you should take the charges very seriously and contact a Harford County, MD criminal defense attorney.  

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 Posted on December 26, 2024 in Criminal Defense

A 31-year-old Maryland man was recently found guilty on two dozen charges related to stalking, cyberstalking, and sharing sexual photos of two of his ex-girlfriends, as well as weapons charges related to firing a gun at the girlfriends. The Brandywine man dated both victims at various times between 2022 and 2023.

Both women said once they ended the relationship, the man began stalking them, sending threatening text messages and calling them hundreds of times in addition to showing up at their homes and places of work. The man additionally threatened to release sexually explicit images of both victims – a threat he subsequently followed up on by spreading printed photos of these sexually explicit images across their front lawns.

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 Posted on December 11, 2024 in Criminal Defense

A Maryland man was recently sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The 67-year-old man from Pikesville and his co-conspirators allegedly debited money from the bank accounts of victims across the United States without authorization. Shell companies were created, and then banks were told that debits against consumers’ bank accounts were authorized as payment for services rendered.

To conceal the fraud and continue the unauthorized debits, "micro-debits" were generated against other bank accounts funded by those involved in the scheme. These micro-debits were intended to reduce bank scrutiny. Overall, the alleged scheme generated more than $1.5 million in losses. Criminal offenses like this fall under the umbrella of white-collar crimes and are often prosecuted federally, although they can also be prosecuted by the state.  

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 Posted on November 22, 2024 in Sex Crimes

Images or videos of someone in the nude or performing a sexual act should be assumed to be private unless the person in the media says otherwise or publicizes them. Sharing intimate photos of someone without consent can be considered "revenge porn," which is a serious sex crime in Maryland.

A person who is convicted of distributing revenge porn can face prison time and heavy fines in addition to a damaged reputation. If you are facing charges of revenge porn distribution, contact a Maryland criminal defense lawyer to begin building your case.

What Is Revenge Porn in Maryland?

Under Maryland law, a person is guilty of distributing revenge porn if he or she knowingly, and with intent to harm, shares intimate photos of someone else without that person’s consent if the content was expected to remain private.

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 Posted on November 07, 2024 in Drug Crimes

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, America is in the throes of an opioid crisis. Prescription drugs like oxycodone and fentanyl are being distributed illegally more than ever before, along with other drugs that are only legal if prescribed by a doctor. In Maryland, the unlawful distribution of controlled substances like prescription drugs is treated harshly with heavy fines and prison time.

However, there are some differences between the penalties for distributing illegal substances like cocaine and the penalties for distributing prescription medication. For more questions or to secure a legal defense against drug distribution charges, consult an experienced Maryland drug crime defense attorney.

What Are the Penalties for Drug Distribution?

The penalties for drug distribution depend on several factors such as the type of drug, the amount distributed, whether any minors were involved, and any prior offenses.

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