Anne Arundel County Criminal Attorney

Over the past ten years, crime in Anne Arundel County, Maryland has demonstrated an almost continuous downward trend. According to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting statistics, after a brief spike in the latter part of this century’s first decade, crime rates plummeted, showing overall crime rates to be down approximately sixteen percent. This is good news for residents and visitors to the area. However, with some 20,000 violent crimes and property crimes occurring each year in Anne Arundel, a large population of suspected and accused people will find themselves needing experienced legal representation from an aggressive Anne Arundel criminal attorney.

While felony convictions carry sentences of up to life in prison, depending on the specific crime, even a misdemeanor charge can have serious implications for a person convicted of the crime. Finding a criminal lawyer who is adept at handling the type of case in which a defendant is involved is a critical step in protecting one’s right to a fair treatment by the courts.

Anne Arundel Criminal Lawyers Can Help With Violent Crime Charges

In 2011, the Anne Arundel County Police Department reported 2,486 violent crimes in the county, a decline of nearly eight percent from the previous year. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault; of these, the most frequently reported crime was assault, making up well over half of violent crimes reported by local police to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database.

Both first degree assault and second degree assault are punished severely under Maryland criminal statutes. Second degree assault is the intentional creation of reasonable fear of bodily harm through threat of violence. It is punishable by a maximum fine of $2,500 and a maximum prison sentence of ten years. Second degree assault is also any unwanted, offensive touching (commonly referred to as battery). First degree assault, is an assault which causes serious physical injury or which is perpetrated by a firearm or weapon, carries a potential sentence of 25 years in prison. With so much at stake, it is in your best interest if you are facing charges for a violent crime to contact an Anne Arundel criminal lawyer.

Anne Arundel Criminal Attorneys Handle Property Crime Charges

Property crimes include vandalism, trespassing, and arson, but most frequently, they are related to theft of money, property, or merchandise. Anne Arundel police reported 13,446 incidents of burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson in 2011, down approximately nine percent from the preceding year. Of these incidents, more than 10,500 were categorized as larceny.

Under Maryland law, larceny, or theft, may be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of the property in question. If the value of stolen merchandise is less than $100, a defendant is charged with a misdemeanor and faces a possible 90-day jail sentence if convicted. However, if the property’s value exceeds $1,000, the defendant faces felony conviction with a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The details of a specific offense can vary widely, and the outcome of a case often depends upon the unique circumstances involved. Consult an Anne Arundel criminal lawyer who can explain the charge against you and help you understand your options for defense.

Contacting an Anne Arundel Criminal Lawyer

Criminal penalties for a DUI, DWI, or DUI Per Se are substantial, and it is therefore in your best interest to retain a dedicated criminal defense attorney in Anne Arundel County who has extensive knowledge of how the State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes such offenses. The maximum penalties for a first offense DUI in Anne Arundel can include on year behind bars and a $1,000 fine. The penalties for DUI Per Se are the same. You may also be subject to administrative penalties regarding your driving privileges. If you submit to a breath test and fail, or refuse to submit to a breath test, you will face a 90 to 120 day license suspension. Moreover, you will accrue a maximum of 12 points against your driving record. In both criminal and administrative proceedings it is vital that you have strong legal representation in order to best protect your rights and future well-being.