In 2019, a Frederick County man who was being investigated for suspicion of possession and distribution of child pornography had a warrant executed at his home. All of his computers, cellular phones, routers, and hard drives were seized. Though the raid was carried out by local police, all of his electronic devices and account information were forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security for forensic analysis.

The client had not yet been charged, but knew he was in trouble and immediately sought out M...

Have you been accused of hitting your son?  Have you been accused of sexually abusing your girlfriend’s daughter?  These are some of the reasons you could receive a call from or be visited by a social worker from Child Protective Services (CPS).  CPS is a part of the Department of Social Services (DSS) that investigates allegations of child neglect and child abuse.  Once a claim of neglect or abuse is sent to CPS, they are required to investigate the claim. Certain laws ( Read More

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Murder and Manslaughter both result in the death of another person, but in Maryland, there are subtle differences between these offenses. Under Maryland law, the killing of another human being is broken down into three categories, from most to least serious: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter. Each offense is a felony under state law but carries various penalties.

First Degree Murder

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A basic American right explicitly set forth in the second amendment is the right to bear arms.  It is important to understand that not only is that right not absolute, it often has many conditions, the violation of any of which may result in an otherwise lawful gun owner going to jail.  The following are the most commonly charged issues relative to firearms and gun law:

Gun Law Violation: Transporting Handguns

Under MD Criminal Law 4-203 it is illegal to knowingly wear, carry or...

As a Criminal Defense Attorney, one of the most commonly asked questions I get is “are my phone calls to/from jail being recorded or listened to?“

Unfortunately for prisoners in the State of Maryland (many of whom are still awaiting trial and have not yet (and may never be) convicted of a crime) and their family/friends who call them or receive calls from them, those calls will be recorded. Moreover, the recording of those calls is permitted by both State and Federal law.

While the...

Federal child pornography charges require a criminal defense attorney that is well versed in not only Federal Criminal Law and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, but also with specific experience, expertise, and an understanding of Federal Child Pornography laws and how unfair they are.

In federal cases involving the possession of child pornography, it is common for there to be very little or no issue regarding the Defendant’s possession of the pornographic materials.   When there is no dispute that t...

It is 2 AM and you are stopped on the side of the road with blue and red flashing lights in your rearview mirror. The fear sets in and you are beginning to panic. When the officer approaches, be cooperative and provide them, with your license and registration. You ARE required to present your driver’s license and vehicle registration to the officer. Your head is flooded with questions and your heart is racing, try your best to remain calm. A lot easier said than done... however, by reading this article, yo...

If the weekend didn’t turn out as you planned, and you have been charged with a crime or as a result of something that happened you believe that you are going to be charged with a crime, there are some simple steps that you should take to protect yourself:

1.  TALK TO NO ONE!

One of the most common mistakes that people make, whether you’ve been charged with a crime (or believe that you ...

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fear and uncertainty associated with being a defendant in a criminal case have been increased due to the confusion surrounding how and when your case can move forward.  The Court of Appeals of Maryland has set timetable beginning with the phased closing of Maryland Courts beginning back on March 16, 2020, and continuing additional phases during which the court will slowly reopen.

What Does Reopening of the Maryland Courts System Look Like

There are a tota...

In the State of Maryland,  there are two ways to have your criminal case tried; the first way is a bench trial where your case is heard only by the judge in District Court. The second way is a jury trial, where the outcome of your case is decided by a 12 person jury of your peers. These cases are tried in Circuit Court. Any criminal defendant in any criminal case no matter how small or large a case they have can have their case tried in front of a judge.

In Maryland, the District Court h...