Blog: Criminal Defense
- Lawmakers considering increased penalties for indecent exposure aimed at minors
Feb 27, 2023
Maryland lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase the penalties for those convicted of indecent exposure when the target is a child. Supporters say the crime demands more substantial penalties when witnessed by a juvenile. St. Mary’s County legislator, Democrat Brian Crosby, told the Capital News Service (CNS) that he drafted the bill to address repeated incidents of indecent exposure cases in his county involving young girls. There have been 189 reported...Read More - You accidentally exposed yourself in public: What now?
Jan 31, 2023
Out of all the sex crimes, indecent exposure is typically a minor one (unless the incident involves underage children). The law defines it as exposing private parts (genitalia) or Maryland classifies it as a misdemeanor, but the penalties can include a three-year prison term and a hefty fine. You may also have to register as a sex offender and deal with considerable social stigma. Indecent exposure does not have to be intentional. ...Read More - Handling false allegations involving revenge porn
Jan 11, 2023
If your former partner falsely accuses you of illegally sharing revenge porn, you could have many questions and a considerable amount of anxiety. In the digital era, an increasing number of people find themselves in this position, and it is pivotal to realize what is at stake. Unfortunately, some people facing false allegations feel voiceless, and proving your innocence could become challenging due to the harsh stigma surrounding these types of cases. What...Read More - Court: Man Can’t Expunge Theft Conviction Because He Did Not Satisfy Terms of Probation
Dec 1, 2022
A Montgomery County’s man failure to satisfy the terms of his probation has doomed his attempt to get his conviction for theft expunged. “[B]ecause appellant violated the terms of his probation for his theft conviction, and his probation was closed unsatisfactorily, he did not satisfy the sentence imposed for the conviction for which expungement was requested, as required for eligibility under [the Maryland expungement statute],” the Court of Special Appeals said. As a...Read More - Marital rape in Maryland
Nov 16, 2022
It is common for married couples to engage in sexual activity willingly, and the intimacy it provides is essential to marriage. Living separately for 12 months without cohabitation or sexual relations is a legal ground for divorce in Maryland. However, one spouse cannot force sex on the other in any way, shape, or form. That spouse could end up being charged with marital rape, earning a prison sentence. Understanding marital rape According to...Read More - Maryland’s new cannabis law makes expungement easier
Nov 14, 2022
Maryland voters have Public smoking of cannabis is not allowed. In addition, individuals are allowed to grow a few plants as long as the greenery is kept out of public view. The new law also makes it easier for people charged or convicted of simple possession to clear their records through expungement and pardons. Expungement Expungement is the process of asking the court to remove certain court and police records...Read More - Court: Crime of Identity Theft Can’t Be Expunged
Nov 10, 2022
The circuit court made a mistake when it granted a Maryland woman’s request to get a conviction for identity theft expunged, according to a recent ruling from the Court of Special Appeals. The appeals court said the crime isn’t eligible for erasure from the records. Expungement requested The petitioner, Ms. H, pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft by obtaining personal identifying information in violation of Maryland law in 2012. The court...Read More - What is a Plea Agreement? (Video)
Nov 9, 2022
You’ll be able to keep up with the series here on our website, or on our Transcript Okay Mike, what is a plea agreement? A plea agreement is something in a case that is often advisable for some of our clients. Let me give you an example, when we get any sort of criminal case or serious traffic case, the first thing we do after talking to the...Read More - What is solicitation and how do you defend against it?
Oct 20, 2022
Solicitation is when one person has someone else commit crimes on their behalf. The individual is still guilty even though they never directly committed a crime in Maryland or elsewhere. What constitutes solicitation? The act of soliciting may come in the form of a direct request or even an outright demand. In other cases, the person can merely encourage another person to commit the crime. The specific criteria for The...Read More - Can I press charges against someone for false accusations?
Oct 4, 2022
Someone accuses you of a criminal act, whether they publish a statement on social media or file a police report, they can cause real harm to you. Obviously, the Maryland police will do their best to investigate allegations of criminal activity. They may question your family and neighbors and arrest you during that process. You may have even had to go to court to prove your innocence. Now that you have successfully demonstrated that...Read More