Blog: Criminal Defense
- Maryland police have responded to hundreds of calls alleging violation of “stay at home” order
Apr 7, 2020
Local and state law enforcement officers have responded to more than 400 calls claiming violations of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s March 30 stay-at-home order intended to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, the Violators face up to $5,000 fine in fines and up to one year in prison. The charge is a misdemeanor. The order is the latest attempt by the governor to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus among Maryland residents...Read More - Maryland courts providing limited services during pandemic
Mar 30, 2020
UPDATE April 20, 2020 Maryland courts and administrative offices are providing The Court of Appeals will only be handling election law matters, petitions for writs of mandamus, certified questions of law, quarantine and isolation matters. The Court of Special Appeals will only be handling requests for injunctive relief pending appeal, appeals in cases in which a lack of action would result in a dispositive outcome, appeals from quarantine and isolation petitions...Read More - Police had probable cause for man’s arrest that started with not wearing a seat belt
Dec 9, 2019
A “traffic initiative” that involved police observing cars stopped at a red light for certain legal violations was not a traffic checkpoint so that there was no intrusion on a Baltimore man’s constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals recently ruled. While conducting an effort to find vehicle violations involving lack of seatbelt use and cellphone use while driving, seven officers from the Baltimore City Police Department were stationed...Read More - Appeals Court Throws Out Woman’s Drug Conviction Because of Strip Search Conducted on the Side of a Busy Highway
Aug 16, 2019
The Fourth Amendment grants the right to be free from unreasonable searches. Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals recently made an important ruling in a case dealing with whether the physical search of a woman in daylight hours on the side of a busy highway was proper. The non-exigent – meaning a search that isn’t urgent — visual inspection of the genital area of a person suspected of concealing controlled dangerous substances, in daylight, while...Read More - Maryland Attorney General Warns About Impostor Law Enforcement Scam
Jun 11, 2019
Thieves posing as Maryland law enforcement officers are swindling Maryland residents by threatening them with arrest for missing jury duty or failing to appear as witnesses, Maryland’s Attorney General has recently warned. Consumers in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County and Howard County have reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be from the local police department or sheriff’s office to inform them that they have missed a court date. In some instances,...Read More - How to Stay Out of Trouble in Ocean City
Apr 23, 2019
Ocean City comes alive in the summer months as one of the premier vacation spots for families, college kids, couples, partygoers, and more. Thousands of students and adults find themselves letting loose with copious amounts of alcohol, lowering inhibitions and creating opportunities for chaos. Once tourist season opens and the first Spring Break revelers make their way through the town, law enforcement go on high alert and significantly increase the number of arrests. Don’t let...Read More - What is a bench warrant?
Feb 5, 2019
The Maryland Judiciary has warned residents in Baltimore and the surrounding counties about a telephone scam that has been making the rounds involving Baltimore bench warrants. The caller tries to extort money from victims, telling them they will be arrested for failing to appear in court. The caller claims to be with the local sheriff’s office and tells the victim that a judge has issued a bench warrant because the person failed to appear...Read More - Lawsuits Over Background Checks Show Need for Expungement of Criminal Records
Dec 6, 2018
Recent lawsuits by workers fired after employer background checks, that in some instances revealed charges that were many years old or inaccurate, show how important it is to get criminal records in Maryland expunged. In one instance, a group of Amazon drivers have sued the e-commerce giant because they were fired when a strict background check discovered criminal charges that, some say, are minor and 10 years old. The criminal justice reform bill signed...Read More - Court Throws Out Evidence Resulting from Police Officer Leaning into Open Car Window
Nov 23, 2018
Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals recently threw out evidence obtained after a Baltimore City police officer leaned into an open car window after a traffic stop. The court said the evidence obtained after the officer leaned into the car and picked up a pill bottle should have been suppressed and ordered a new trial as to some of the charges made against a Baltimore driver. While on patrol in an unmarked vehicle, two Baltimore...Read More - Appeals Court Rejects Army Vet’s Attempt to Stay off Maryland Sex Offender Registry
Sep 17, 2018
A Maryland appeals court recently rejected an attempt by an Army veteran to avoid registering with the Maryland Sex Offender Registry. The man, a sergeant in the United States Army, was convicted under military law of two counts of abusive sexual contact involving a 17-year-old girl while he was stationed in Texas. He was ordered to a reduction in grade, confinement and forfeiture of all pay and allowances for five months. Upon his release,...Read More