Maryland Law Blog

According to The Baltimore Sun, police have arrested the suspect in a shooting that left one man dead and another hospitalized. The 19-year-old suspect has been charged with first-degree and attempted murder for the shooting which occurred in the 5700 block of Nasco Place. The Sun reports that the suspect was in the backseat of a car with the two victims and shot both men during an argument. Currently, police do not know what caused the argument and are unable to confirm what the relationship is between the alleged shooter and the two men, though the sister of the surviving victim says the alleged shooter worked at a youth program that the deceased victim worked for as a mentor.

The arrested suspect has had prior run-ins with the law, having previously been charged with drug possession last fall and assault in 2008, though both cases were apparently dropped by prosecutors. If the young man in this case is convicted, he may face the possibility of life in prison without parole for the first-degree murder charge. An attempted murder charge in the state of Maryland can carry with it either life imprisonment for a first-degree attempted murder charge or up to 30 years in prison for attempted murder in the second-degree.

The Bethesda murder defense attorneys with Alpert Schreyer firmly believe that anyone facing murder charges deserves a fair trial and excellent legal representation to ensure his or her legal rights are protected. Our law team will work diligently to establish an aggressive defense that aims to either have the charges against you dismissed or severe penalties reduced. To see how we can assist you with your case, call (866) 444-6363 for a no-cost consultation.

A suspected serial killer was recently sentenced to 100 years in prison for committing dozens of violent crimes in Maryland’s Prince George County, according to The Washington Examiner. The 28-year-old former UPS worker was convicted in federal court of carjacking, child pornography and weapons charges for his role in more than nine home invasions and 50 burglaries that occurred between 2007 and 2009.

The convicted man was accused of using a UPS database to look up homes he wanted to target, cutting phones lines to disable alarm systems, and then breaking windows to gain access to the residence or entering homes through unlocked doors. During the crimes, described as “increasingly violent,” the 28-year-old took computers, credit cards, phones, and televisions, among other items.

The convicted criminal was also indicted in July 2010 for the murders of a 42-year-old mother and her 20-year-old daughter. The charred bodies of the mother and daughter were found in a burning vehicle in Largo, Maryland in March 2009. That case is scheduled for trial in October, 2012. Prince George County police officials say the man is also suspected in other area killings, but currently has only been charged with the killing of the mother and daughter. Prosecutors state that the offender admitted in interviews to committing roughly 30 home burglaries and nine armed home invasion robberies. The man has been in custody since July 2009 when authorities, searching both his car and bedroom, found more than a dozen stolen guns, ski masks, gloves, ammunition, holsters, and police scanners.

The man in this case faces extremely harsh penalties for multiple charges. He will face additional penalties and jail time if he is convicted in his October murder trial. In the state of Maryland those convicted of the crime of murder face severe punishments including life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors for the state take this charge very seriously, so anyone charged with murder would be well advised to seek help from a skilled Maryland murder defense attorney to protect your legal rights. The law firm of Alpert Schreyer has years of experience defending those charged with criminal offenses and can apply our knowledge to your case to get the best possible outcome. To see how our legal team can help you, call (866) 444-6363 for a free consultation.

A 29 year-old Essex resident has been accused of shooting and killing a Towson gas station owner in a murder-for-hire scheme. He is one of six people implicated in this killing, including the gas station owner’s wife as well as her brother, sister, and nephew, according to the Baltimore Sun. Court documents state that the wife promised the Essex resident more than $9,000 for the killing of her husband. The case is due in court this week, and as prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in this murder case, it will likely be the first death penalty trial under Maryland’s revamped death penalty law.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the new state statute, which went into effect 2 years ago, says that the death penalty may only be sought in cases where there is “DNA or other biological evidence, a video-taped confession, or a video recording that conclusively links the defendant to the murder”. In the case of the Essex resident, prosecutors have a videotaped recording of the defendant, taken at the Baltimore County police Headquarters on March 6, 2010, ultimately confessing to the crime of killing the gas station owner at a Maryland Hess Station five days earlier on the morning of March 1. However, in an attempt to not get the death penalty in this murder case, the defendant’s attorneys state that he was never told he was being videotaped and what consequences he may face because the confession was on tape. Essentially, the man’s video confession makes him eligible for the death penalty under the revised statute.

The judge eventually ruled that the video of the man’s confession will be admissible in the trial. The Baltimore Sun explains the defendant’s lawyers have entered 10 motions to “strike the prosecutor’s move to seek the death penalty”.

The revised Maryland death penalty statute may seem clear, but this recent case demonstrates that there are stipulations that may be relevant if you are not informed of your rights. If you have been charged with murder, the knowledgeable Maryland murder defense attorneys at the law offices of Alpert Schreyer can help you get the best possible outcome in your case and make sure you are well informed at every step of your trial. Please call (866) 444-6363 for a no-cost consultation.

In a Baltimore County Circuit Court, a 31-year old man convicted of murder made statements during sentencing implying that he had been treated unfairly by court officials, according to the Baltimore Sun. The man was found guilty of first degree murder of his 23-year-old girlfriend.

During the sentencing hearing, the man accused the judge, prosecutors and detectives of lying, ignoring evidence that would have helped his case and conspiring against him. The man looked at the judge while saying, “You all just wanted to blame me—you all just wanted to set me up.” The man also referred to mistakes and omissions he felt were made by the state in their case against him. “All these stories that I was abusive and that I gave her a black eye—all that’s a lie,” claimed the man. He also criticized the way his lawyer handled the case.

Despite the man’s strong feelings, the sentencing hearing continued and he was given life in prison without parole with a consecutive 20-year term for using a handgun in a violent crime. The man says he plans to appeal the decision.

While this man’s claims of bias and errors may be unfounded, such things do happen. At Alpert Schreyer, our Maryland homicide defense lawyers have the experience necessary to carefully evaluate your case for mistakes or oversight on the part of law enforcement and prosecutors. Several of our lawyers are former prosecutors who understand how the other side thinks and the legal standards they are held to when making an argument. Using this knowledge and years of experience, our lawyers can build a strong defense, protect your rights and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. If you or a loved one has been accused of a crime, call the Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer today at 1-866-444-6363.

A jury ruled that a 24 year old man should be sentenced to the death penalty for shooting a Delaware police officer, according to The Washington Post. The jury was split, with seven jurors recommending the death penalty, and five recommending he receive life in prison. The judge will make the final decision in May.

The shooting occurred in 2009. The convicted man allegedly shot at an individual identified as a drug dealer, whom he was trying to rob in a fast food restaurant’s parking lot. Two police officers began pursuing a car carrying the man and two others, and one of the officers was shot during the pursuit. During the trial, defense attorneys argued that the man suffers from brain damage in addition to being the victim of constant abuse as a child.

Violent crime cases, especially those involving murder charges, are extremely complex and propose serious penalties for the individual being charged. It is easy for the media to twist a story and not provide the public with all of the facts. While there is much debate regarding the ethics behind the death penalty, an individual may still receive this as punishment if an aggressive and experienced defense attorney is not obtained.

Many individuals who are facing murder charges in Maryland feel scared and overwhelmed. If you or someone you care about have been charged with murder, call the Maryland murder defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC. We will help you learn about defenses to the crimes with which you have been charged, examine which evidence may not be admissible, and will provide you with a clear understanding of what to expect from the criminal justice system. Call us today at 866-444-6363.