Maryland Law Blog

Two young women suspected of beating a transgender woman in a McDonald’s restaurant may be charged with a hate crime in addition to the assault, according to recent news reports from WAMU and CNN. The victim is currently recovering from her injuries.

The incident occurred in the McDonald’s in Rosedale, just outside Baltimore. Rescue workers and police arrived on the scene to find the victim having a seizure. Video from the incident appears to show the two suspects beating, punching, and kicking the woman, while other patrons urged them to leave before the police arrived.

Prosecutors have already charged the 14-year-old suspect with second-degree assault, and she will be tried as a juvenile. The second suspect, who is 18 years old, was charged with one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault. Prosecutors are also considering charging both women with a hate crime after they admitted that the fight began over the transgender victim’s use of the ladies’ bathroom at the restaurant. Protestors outside the Rosedale McDonald’s seem to support the hate crime charges, according to WAMU.

Facing violent crime charges is difficult, and the problems are multiplied when the crime allegedly committed winds up in the public eye. If you’re facing assault charges in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland assault defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC. Call 866-444-6363 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

In today’s digital, information-heavy world, many people take steps to protect themselves from identity theft. But many people don’t realize that children can also be victims of identity theft.

In fact, stealing a child’s identity can be even easier than stealing an adult’s, according to the Baltimore County police. Since children don’t have credit cards, mortgages, or other loans, they and their parents rarely check to see if someone is using credit in the child’s name. By the time the child reaches adulthood, he or she may discover that bad credit is already attached to their name - often, by being turned down for a student loan or other financial necessity.

According to the Baltimore County police, the most common thieves of a child’s identity aren’t complete strangers. Rather, they are people who know the child well, such as parents or other close adult relatives. Often, a parent will try to fix a debt-heavy financial situation by getting credit in the child’s name. The parent may have the best intentions of using the credit just enough to get the family out of a tough financial spot. However, if the debts rack up on the child’s account, he or she can literally be stuck with the bill.

If you’ve been charged with identity theft in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced Maryland identity theft defense attorney like those at Alpert Schreyer. We will examine the details of your case carefully and fight for the best possible outcome for your particular situation. Call 866-444-6363 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

Maryland’s Attorney General recently joined forces with the Attorney General of Delaware to fight for a ban on an iPhone app that alerts drivers to the location of DUI checkpoints, according to an article in The Baltimore Sun.

The app, which can be used on smartphones like the iPhone, lists the locations of checkpoints that police use to screen drivers, often arresting those whom the police believe are driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. The attorney general argues that the app allows drunk drivers to avoid the law by alerting them to alternate routes that do not require them to drive through the DUI checkpoint.

A similar app for the Blackberry smartphone recently disappeared from the market when its seller, Research in Motion, pulled the app from its online store in response to pleas from several U.S. senators to remove the app. Like the Maryland Attorney General, the senators did not wish to allow drivers to receive information that might allow them to circumvent DUI checkpoints.

Supporters of the checkpoint apps, however, point out that they have a number of uses that have nothing to do with evading the law. For example, the Association for Competitive Technology, a trade association, notes that the apps can also be used to avoid bottlenecks in traffic or accidents that have closed certain routes.

A drunk driving conviction in Maryland comes with serious penalties. If you’re facing DUI charges, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland drunk driving attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call us today at 866-444-6363.