Cumberland Second-Degree Murder Charges Against Former Teacher
The Baltimore Sun reports in an article that former middle school teacher Cory Yantz, 37, of Cumberland, MD, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The charges stem from the stabbing death of Yantz’s wife, 34-year-old Tanya Yantz, who was killed last August.
In order to understand the difference between first and second degree murder in Maryland, a close reading of the statutes governing first degree murder is required. Maryland retains an older distinction between first and second degree murder which dates from United States common law. A murder is in the first degree if it meets at least one of the following four criteria:
• The killing is deliberate, premeditated and willful
• The killing is done by poison
• The killing is accomplished by lying in wait
• The killing occurs during the commission or the attempt to commit one or more violent felonies.
If the circumstances surrounding a killing do not meet at least one of these criteria, the appropriate charge is second-degree murder.
How Second-Degree Murder Is Used in the Courts
The sentencing options for first-degree murder are quite severe: life imprisonment, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, even the death penalty. However, the state must operate under stricter procedural rules to pursue the death penalty.
Second-degree murder charges are often considered as a plea bargain in Maryland homicide cases. For the prosecution, the lesser charge can be easier to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court. From the criminal defense standpoint, second degree murder carries less severe penalties, with a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
The criminal courts are a complex and ever-changing arena for all parties involved. If you have any questions or concerns about Maryland criminal cases, please contact the knowledgeable and skilled criminal defense attorneys in Maryland at Meng & Alpert LLC for more information. If you have been charged with a violent crime, the attorneys of Meng & Alpert LLC have considerable experience with violent criminal cases such as homicide and assault and can help protect your rights. Call 866-444-6363 today for a free case evaluation.
