Category Archives: Criminal Defense
The Costs Of Racial Profiling
Racial profiling is real. Study after study tells us that people of color experience more stops while driving and more frisks in all situations than do their white counterparts. While many law enforcement agencies recognize the problems associated with racial profiling, data indicate that the occurrences of racial profiling are rising, not declining. If… Read More »
Marijuana Laws In Maryland
Despite the hopes of many Marylanders, legislation to legalize recreational use of marijuana failed once again in the 2021 legislative session. That being said, the medical marijuana business is booming, with nearly $500,000 in sales annually. For those lacking a medical justification for using marijuana, the penalties can be surprisingly steep, and definitely life… Read More »
Accused Of A Crime? Know Your Rights
What could be more terrifying than being charged with a crime? As you are cuffed and driven to the county jail, thoughts of years behind bars and the loss of freedom, family, and job overwhelm. Nevertheless, whatever charges you may be facing, you need to know that you have very clear, Constitutionally guaranteed rights…. Read More »
Shoplifting In Maryland Can Have Serious Consequences
If you have been charged with theft, you could be looking at severe penalties, even if the crime involved a small item pinched from a local convenience store. In Maryland, shoplifting is viewed with gravity. If convicted, you could be facing stiff fines, in addition to time behind bars. Now, more than ever, you… Read More »
From Protest to Treason: Understanding the Terms of the Times
Recent events at the Capitol in Washington D.C. have sent myriad vocabulary words whirling through America. Was it a protest? A riot? An insurrection? Legally, these and other words have specific meanings linked to differing penalties. Do you, or someone you know– need an attorney after involvement in such activity? Charges related to January… Read More »
Know Your Rights When You’re Pulled Over
No one wants a surprise encounter with law enforcement on the road. Nevertheless, most of us have been pulled over at one time or another. As you ease to the shoulder, you should mentally prepare for the upcoming police interaction. Now, more than ever, it is essential that you understand your rights. Goal One:… Read More »
Police Interactions: Know Your Rights!
You’re driving along when you see the dreaded red and blue lights flashing in your rear-view mirror. You get a pit of fear in your stomach, hoping beyond hope that maybe the police are after someone up ahead. But no, as you pull to the shoulder of the road, the lights follow you, and… Read More »
Changes to Hate-Crime Standards
Getting a conviction for a hate-crime, along with the associated stricter penalties, just got a lot easier in Maryland. If you are charged with a hate-crime, you are looking at some pretty serious sentences, as the hate crime designation increases incarceration lengths and fines above those associated with typical convictions. The best thing you… Read More »
More Arrests & Jail Time for “COVID-19 Crimes” Here in Maryland, But Are They Constitutional
In late September, a Maryland man was convicted and sentenced to prison time for violating Governor Larry Hogan’s COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings. According to reports, the defendant held two parties that had at least 50 people in attendance while, at the time, Gov. Hogan’s emergency order prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people. According… Read More »
Your Right to Protest and “Unlawful Assembly” Charges
There is no question that, in recent months, America has seen widespread protests denouncing police brutality, including here in Maryland, which has had thousands of people march in demonstrations statewide just over the death of George Floyd alone in cities such as Baltimore and Annapolis. In response, both local and federal law enforcement have… Read More »