Category: Criminal Defense

Your child has been accused of a crime, and now you have paperwork telling you to appear in court. Where exactly does a juvenile case go? Most juvenile delinquency cases in Anne Arundel County are handled by the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, sitting as the Juvenile Court, in Annapolis. Maryland's...

You grab your bags, walk out of the store, and realize you didn't pay for an item. Can that mistake really result in a criminal charge? You can be accused of shoplifting in Maryland for leaving a store without paying, but an accusation is not proof of theft.  Maryland...

You wake up seriously ill on the morning of court. Staying home may be medically necessary, but your case does not automatically get postponed because you are sick. If you miss a required court appearance in Maryland, the judge may issue a bench warrant or take other action even when illness...

A fight does not automatically make both people criminals. In Maryland, self-defense may justify using force when you reasonably believe you are in immediate danger of bodily harm and use no more force than reasonably necessary under the circumstances. Deadly force is subject to stricter requirements. Whether self-defense applies often turns on...

Not every gun charge in Maryland carries a mandatory prison sentence, but some do. Whether a judge has discretion to impose probation or must order incarceration depends on the specific offense, your criminal history, and how the firearm was allegedly used. Because mandatory minimum sentencing depends on the specific offense and...

Key Takeaways A grand jury decides whether there is enough evidence to bring charges, not whether someone is guilty. Grand juries are commonly used in Maryland felony investigations and other serious criminal cases. An indictment is not automatic—grand jurors...

Whether you should take a plea deal in a Maryland criminal case depends on the strength of the evidence, the risks of going to trial, and the long-term consequences of a conviction. While many cases in Annapolis and throughout Maryland are resolved through plea agreements, accepting one is not always the right...

In Maryland, violating a protective order or peace order can lead to criminal charges—even if the contact was limited to a single text message. Courts strictly enforce “no contact” provisions, and any prohibited communication may be treated as a separate offense. These cases often arise from misunderstandings about what is allowed,...

Missing a court date in Maryland can lead to a bench warrant, additional charges, and immediate risk of arrest. Known as “failure to appear,” this situation can complicate an existing case and create new legal exposure. Courts in Annapolis and throughout Maryland take missed appearances seriously, but a skilled defense attorney...

Generally, no, you cannot freely travel out of state or relocate while on probation in Maryland without prior approval. Most probation orders restrict your movement to the state, and leaving without permission from your probation officer or the court is considered a violation. That said, travel and out-of-state moves are possible...

In Maryland, police generally need a warrant to search your car, home, or phone, but there are important exceptions. The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable searches, and Maryland law adds its own safeguards. If law enforcement conducted a search without proper authority, any evidence found may be excluded. Understanding when a...