Maryland Law Blog

A convicted drug dealer was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week for cocaine-related charges. Stemming from a March arrest in Worcester County, the 27-year-old Maryland resident (who has a prior drug charge for crack cocaine possession) was found guilty of cocaine possession with intent to distribute.

The Maryland State Police arrested the man earlier this year when, after a short chase, police officers found the man in possession of a large plastic bag with three smaller bags containing crack cocaine. At the time, the suspect fled his car to try avoiding law enforcement, but the vehicle was never placed in park; the moving car eventually hit a rail guard on Route 113. A later inspection of the car produced even more drugs.

Maryland drug charges can vary depending on the circumstances; for example, suspects caught with a large amount of a controlled substance may be charged with intent to distribute or drug trafficking. Also, depending on the quantity and packaging, the charges may result in a felony or misdemeanor. In addition, the type of drug found in the suspect’s possession also determines what kind of charges the person may face.

In the state of Maryland, if caught with a Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 drug, such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, or methamphetamine, a suspect can receive a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $25,000. For less dangerous drugs, a prison sentence may be up to 5 years with fines of up to $15,000.

The penalties for being arrested for drug possession in Maryland can be quite severe, and not knowing the complexities of state drug laws and what punishments you may face can make the situation more difficult. A skilled Maryland drug possession defense attorney at the law firm of Alpert Schreyer can help you if you have been arrested for the crime of drug possession. We have years of experience handling these types of cases and will fight to get the best possible outcome in your case. For a free consultation, please call (866) 444-6363.

According to The Baltimore Sun, an 18-year-old male resident of Pasadena, Maryland was arrested this past Saturday for suspected burglary. After responding to a call from neighbors, Anne Arundel County officers found the young suspect knocking on the door of a Leeds Drive home and peering into the windows. The suspect was arrested after climbing back over the backyard fence of the home and drugs were found in the suspect’s possession. Police officers found the back sliding glass door of the home open and items in the house “disturbed.”

The companion of the arrested man remains at large and is described as being approximately 18 years old and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. The suspect is charged with first, third, and fourth degree burglary, as well as possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Under Maryland criminal law, the crime of burglary is divided into four degrees. The first three degrees are felonies, but fourth degree burglary is considered a misdemeanor crime. If convicted of burglary, the penalties can be quite severe. According to a report issued by the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, in 2009, those convicted of burglary in the first and second degree in Maryland received an average sentence of 7 years with close to 80% incarcerated for the crime. Meanwhile, an average of a 2 year prison sentence was given to those convicted of fourth degree burglary charges with more than 60% incarcerated.

Individuals charged with a theft crime in Maryland may see a very negative impact on their future. This crime carries a negative mark on your permanent record, and a conviction might mean trouble in the future finding employment. The skilled Maryland theft defense attorneys at the law firm of Alpert Schreyer can provide aggressive legal representation and fight to get you the best outcome in your case. Please call (866) 444-6363 for a free consultation.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland Court of Appeals has sent a case back to Baltimore County Circuit Court after they found that there was insufficient evidence to convict a man of robbery. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in 2006 when the convicted man allegedly walked into a Jiffy Lube and told the clerk to “don’t say nothing.” Although the man did not brandish a weapon, the clerk immediately handed the man the money in his till and reported a robbery.

The man was convicted of robbery and, based on his two prior felony robbery convictions, was sentenced to 25 years without the possibility of parole. The man appealed his sentence and argued that the evidence was not sufficient to support his third felony robbery conviction. The judges on the appeals court discussed what robbery actually means and came to the conclusion that an ordinary, reasonable person would not have felt apprehension that the suspect was about to apply force since he did not use a weapon or make any threats. The judges ruled that something more than the man’s statement is needed to meet the legal standard for robbery.

In a case like this, having the right Maryland criminal defense attorney is crucial. An experienced attorney will know how to handle this type of appeal and may help get a conviction overturned or at least have a case sent back to a lower court. The criminal defense attorneys in Maryland at Alpert Schreyer have extensive experience helping those charged with robbery and other felonies. If you need help defending yourself against criminal charges, contact us at (866) 444-6363 to schedule a free review of your case.