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A Basic Listing of Potential Charges

Maryland Criminal Law can be broken down into two basic categories, felonies and misdemeanors. The following is a brief characterization of most of the common law felonies and misdemeanors in the State of Maryland.

• Murder
  
• Crimes against a person - assault, reckless endangerment, poison and other related crimes to physically harm another individual
  
• Sex Offense Crimes - these offenses include rape, sex offense, sexual assault, incest
  
• Robbery
  
• Kidnapping and abduction
  
• Abuse, neglect, child and vulnerable adults
  
• Extortion
  
• Stalking, harassment crimes
  
• Weapon offenses, fire arms, bullet proof vests, weapons
  
• Controlled dangerous substance (possession such as marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroine and other scheduled cds narcotic violations, prescription drugs)
  
• Property crimes, burglary, breaking and entering, destruction of property, trespassing
  
• Death Crimes
  
• Theft, stealing, grand larceny
  
• Fraud, bounced check, credit card misuse, theft, deceit
  
• Legal crimes, perjury, bribery, influence or intimidating, harboring, false statements

RESOURCE LINKS:

U.S. Courts: www.uscourts.gov
Baltimore County Circuit Court: www.courts.state.md.us/baltcty.html
Baltimore City Circuit Court: www.courts.state.md.us/baltcity.html

Sexual Offenses and other Related Crimes

Sexual offenses, internet child pornography charges, solicitation of a minor for sexual purposes, criminal sexual offenses including minors and children, rape, statutory rape, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct, sexual assault, indecent exposure and unnatural and perverted acts, sexual assault including weapons and other violent sex conduct Sex Crimes - sex crimes are a broad category that includes the variety of common offenses such as child abuse, child enticement, child pornography, child procurement, child exploitation, date rape, rape, failure to register, indecent exposure, internet porn, eluding, lascivious, lude conduct, marital rape, molestation, obscenity, pedifilia, pimping, pandering, pornography, prostitution, rape, sexual offense, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, statutory rape, sodomy.

These crimes usually include acts of unwanted physical conduct for the purpose of personal sexual gratification. Many sex crimes are considered felonies. In some States such as Maryland the law includes provisions against aggressive sexual suggested statements or when physical contact occurs. Physical contact is unwanted if the victim did not legally consent to such conduct — saying no, physically objecting, or being intoxicated or incapacitated to the point of not being able to give consent. The consequences for the conviction of rape or any other sexual related offenses are severe and can include lengthy prison sentences, significant fines, mandatory aids testing, Court ordered rehabilitation, loss of your right to vote, loss of your right to possess a weapon, and requirement to register as a sex offender typically for the rest of your life if and when you are released from jail.

Likelihood of many of these consequences depend upon a number of factors including mitigating and aggravating circumstances, whether or not you are currently on parole or probation, any prior convictions, specifically sexual convictions, your community and/or your Court's attitude about these offenses, level of attention your case is receiving in the media, and the quality of legal representation.

It takes a firm such as James E. Crawford, Jr. Law Firm that know how to deal with Federal and State authorities when it comes to defending an individual against sex crime charges.

Criminal Law — "How it works"

When an individual is charged with a criminal offense, they are usually charged by the "State" or by the "Federal Government". The authority for a government to charge someone with a criminal offense is found in the United States Constitution and various State Constitutions. The criminal offense usually stems from an investigation and/or an incident where a private individual goes to the authorities and eventually the State or Federal Government decides to charge the individual with a statutory or common law crime. The legislatures in various States as well as Congress define and create laws which are constantly changing on a year to year basis. However, there are "common law" crimes that have evolved over many years which are still active today. Definitions can be nebulous and differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Our way of life which is espoused in the United States Constitution gives each individual certain rights and liberties. Theses rights include the prohibiting of a State or Federal Government to deprive someone of their life, liberty or property without due process of law. Therefore each jurisdiction includes constitutional standards that must be met in order for a conviction to occur. However, make no mistake, the government is not on your side and once they decide to charge you their goal is to convict you. Quite frankly, most jurisdictions, after they decide to indict or charge you, are concerned more with the conviction than doing justice.

That is why you need an experienced law firm and criminal defense attorney such as James E. Crawford, Jr. to represent you in your case. It is very important that you understand from the very beginning that the State and/or Government officials such as detectives or police officers are there to do one thing, that is to convict you. Their techniques and way of getting you to say things that you may or may not say ordinarily are very convincing and have been polished and used over many, many years. It is very difficult for an individual to be in a situation where they are alone with detectives who are trying to tell them and convince them they did something wrong and/or use other techniques that may make you confess to something you did not do. It can be very difficult for you as a defendant to simply say nothing or say I want a lawyer, however, that is what you must do in that situation and it is imperative that you understand that cooperation at that point in time can usually do nothing to help. However, it can put you in a situation where anything you say may put you away in jail for many, many years.

The Trial Process.

After you are charged with a crime depending upon which jurisdiction you are charged the rules and procedures kick in. First, if you are in District Court you are entitled to see a judicial officer who will advise you of certain rights. One of those rights is to obtain an attorney and I strongly advise you to do that immediately if you are charged. It is imperative that a defense attorney get involved in the case at the very early stages before interrogation occurs if possible. The arresting officers have the duty to inform the Defendant that they have the right to an attorney and they may not say anything and anything that you do say can be used against you. These are called Miranda warnings.

Many times in a felony case you have the absolute right to a trial by judge or jury. Sometimes a jury can be good and sometimes a judge can be good. It depends upon the situation and the trial Court you may be in. That is why you need to rely on an experienced trial attorney who has been practicing in those Courts for many years to advise you as to which road to go down. Many times a plea negotiation occurs and that can be to the benefit of the Defendant. It is imperative that the Defendant and the experienced trial attorney communicate effectively to determine what is in the best interest of the Defendant. The State or Government must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt and if they can not do so then the jury and/or the judge should find the Defendant not guilty.

When you are charged with a crime it could be one of the most frightening and stressful situations that you may ever encounter in your life. Remember that the State or Government is out to do one thing in that situation and that is to convict you and/or deprive you of your property and/or liberty. You must contact a defense attorney immediately in order to work through these issues and to zealously represent you and to minimize the possibility of you going to jail.

Process of a Criminal Case

Remember at the beginning of any criminal case you have the absolute right to an attorney whether the attorney is appointed as a public defender or you hired an experienced law firm such as James E. Crawford, Jr. to represent you. It is your choice but be aware that the law contains an infinite number of loop holes. You have certain constitutional rights that must be looked at immediately to determine what direction you will be proceeding in regarding your case.

Some Constitutional rights include, 1) right to a lawyer, 2) right to testify on your own behalf, 3) right to cross examine and confront witnesses, 4) right to remain silent, 5) right to a speedy trial, 6) right to use Courts process of service to compel, 7) right to a jury trial and/or judge trial. Remember, You have the absolute presumption of innocence.

Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony

Generally a misdemeanor crime is punishable up to one year in County jail. Misdemeanor trials are held in the State's lower Court such as the District Court. A felony is punishable by one year or more in the State prison or penitentiary. Felonies usually begin in the State's lower Courts and move up to the State's higher Court such as the Circuit Court.

A misdemeanor or felony arraignment process are virtually identical to the other with one exception. Arraignment, pre-trial conference, trial, sentencing, appeals.