Recent Blog Posts
Newspaper Theft – Harmless Prank Or Criminal Offense?
Newspaper theft – Harmless prank or criminal offense?
Swiping someone’s newspaper from their doorstep may seem like a funny prank that hurts nobody. However, in Maryland, it’s considered a criminal offense. While the act itself may appear innocent enough, the law treats it as a form of theft, carrying potential penalties for those convicted.
State law on newspaper theft
Under Maryland law, it’s illegal to take or obtain any newspaper from the premises of another or from an area adjacent to those premises with the intent to deprive the owner of the newspaper. This statute applies regardless of whether the newspaper is paid for or provided free of charge.
Specifically, the law prohibits anyone from knowingly exerting control over the newspapers of another with the intent to prevent the other person from reading.
The penalties for newspaper theft
Stealing newspapers is indeed a crime under state law. Those charged with the offense may face real criminal penalties.
A Defendant's Right To A Speedy Trial
A Defendant’s Right to a Speedy Trial
In the state of Maryland and the rest of the United States, accused individuals have the right to a speedy trial. This is outlined in the US Constitution and there are also state and federal guidelines that protect defendants’ rights when it comes to trials.
Criminal case rights to a speedy trial
The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution states that the accused are granted the right to a speedy and public trial. There are other elements that are included in this Amendment including having the right to an impartial jury of the State and district where the crime was committed. The defendant also can request the assistance of counsel for Criminal Defense.
An accused individual needs to be brought to trial within a certain amount of time that’s deemed to be reasonable. What defines reasonable isn’t so clear-cut. However, the government isn’t legally allowed to imprison anyone without giving them a trial.
Though there isn’t a firm time limit for a "reasonable time," the Supreme Court has set precedents. Statutory federal and state law also informs the boundaries of a speedy trial.
When A Nurse Gets A DUI
When a nurse gets a DUI
Driving under the influence is one of the most serious criminal charges that Maryland motorists face. These charges are somewhat amplified when a person is in a social position of trust such as a nurse. Nurses are tasked with protecting some of the most vulnerable people in society. If they are convicted of DUI, they will need to take steps to protect their legal jeopardy as well as their professional future.
Professional ramifications
The ramifications for a nurse who is convicted of DUI are similar to those in other professions. The main difference is the potential effects from an employer. Many companies will not punish an employee for a DUI. The crime is frowned upon, of course. But it is so common that many companies are used to people being arrested at least on occasion for the offense. A nurse, on the other hand, is trusted and privileged similar to a pilot or doctor. Their employer may react by sanctioning or even firing them for such an offense. It may show poor judgment and an inability to have total control over a person’s relationship with substances.
The Consequences Of Missing A Court Date
The consequences of missing a court date
Missing a Maryland court hearing can happen to anyone. You can forget the exact date or face an unexpected challenge that prevents you from appearing in court. Regardless of how valid your reason is, you must take it seriously.
The ramifications of non-appearance in court
No matter the rationale behind your absence from a court hearing, the criminal legal system remains uncompromising. More than forty states will impose additional penalties, including imprisonment and fines. Understanding criminal defense laws regarding failure to appear in court is crucial.
Arrest warrant
The judge in charge of your case may authorize law enforcement to arrest you for missing an appearance. This can disrupt your everyday life in many ways. Once charged, you’ll spend time in jail awaiting your next court appearance.
Harsher sentence
The judge will determine your sentence if you are guilty of a crime. Numerous judges perceive failure to appear in court as disrespecting the judicial system. Hence, the judge might impose a harsher sentence than expected. At the same time, the judge might decide to proceed with the case in your absence. This could lead to a default judgment, resulting in an automatic loss of the case.
Xylazine Becoming An Emerging Drug Throughout The U.S.
Xylazine becoming an emerging drug throughout the U.S.
Xylazine is a sedative meant for animals. While not intended for consumption by humans, it hasn’t stopped xylazine from becoming a drug that produces sedative-like effects. Sometimes referred to as tranq, this drug can affect the lives of Maryland residents using it. Soon, using, possessing or selling xylazine could mean facing serious fines and jail time.
What is xylazine?
The FDA-approved drug xylazine provides effects similar to muscle relaxants when administered to animals. A veterinary professional administers this medication to animals by itself or with barbiturates or ketamine. Studies performed on humans using xylazine to assess its effects ended due to the human participants experiencing severe central nervous system depressing effects and intense hypotension.
This cheap high can come with extremely dangerous results, including severe infection-causing lesions potentially leading to the need for amputations. Additionally, xylazine may also cause someone to blackout. What makes this sedative worse for human use is that it’s not responsive to naloxone, a medication that prevents fatal drug overdoses.
What Being Charged With An Aggravated DUI Can Mean
What being charged with an aggravated DUI can mean
Facing a DUI charge in Maryland is a serious matter. An aggravated DUI carries even more severe penalties and potential consequences for your future.
Reckless behavior
You may face an aggravated DUI charge if law enforcement deems your behavior extremely reckless, such as driving with excessive alcohol in your system, having a minor in the vehicle, or causing a serious accident while intoxicated. Repeat offenders with a history of drunk driving may also be charged with an aggravated DUI.
Life-altering penalties
An aggravated DUI carries more severe penalties compared to a normal DUI. If convicted, you may face a six-month license suspension, fines ranging from $500 to $1,000, and potential jail time. The judge may also order counseling or alcoholism treatment and mandate the installation of a breath test device in your vehicle before starting the ignition.
Additional charges
If driving while intoxicated results in injury, you could face up to three years in jail and fines up to $5,000. In cases of fatalities, the penalty could be five years in jail. Additionally, you may face civil lawsuits from injured parties or the families of those killed, leading to financial devastation. Having a minor in the vehicle may lead to child endangerment charges alongside aggravated DUI charges. Speeding or reckless driving could result in additional reckless driving charges.
Effective Ways To Fight A Traffic Ticket
Effective ways to fight a traffic ticket
Many drivers in Maryland, no matter how responsible, will at some point receive a traffic ticket. In some cases, the ticket may be justified, but in others, the officer may have made an error, or circumstances may make the ticket questionable.
A traffic violation can lead to expensive fines, and its presence on your driving record can have consequences. As such, it’s often worthwhile to dispute a traffic ticket, assuming you believe you can win.
Tactics that can work
In some types of traffic citations, the police officer makes a judgment call. An example might be citing you for improper lane changes. You can question the officer’s opinion about whether the lane change was improper or not.
Other tickets are matters of fact, such as running a red light or making an illegal U-turn. In these cases, you can dispute the ticket by presenting evidence, such as eyewitness testimony asserting that you didn’t do what you’re accused of.
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Why Lie Detection Methods Don't Work
Why lie detection methods don’t work
Most people in Maryland are familiar with the concept of lie detector tests. They appear in many television shows and movies where suspects are asked to submit to a polygraph test to determine their innocence or guilt. However, in real life, these tests have many fundamental flaws. They aren’t as foolproof as we have been led to believe. Let’s take a look at a few problems they have.
Polygraphs aren’t always accurate
Lie detector tests usually rely on physiological changes in a person like an increased heart rate. However, these don’t always work as some people have no physical or emotional response while lying.
Criminal defense research currently suggests that these tests are roughly 70% accurate. When the legal requirement for a conviction is "beyond a reasonable doubt," a 30% chance of an incorrect result makes the test effectively useless.
Body language analysis doesn’t work either
Another method commonly used as an alternative to a polygraph is a physical analysis of subtle behaviors. This involves a body language expert looking for micro-expressions or other "tells" that reveal when a person is lying. Similar to polygraphs or eyewitness testimony, criminal justice experts believe that there is a significant chance for inaccuracy.
Uncovering The Uncertainty Of Roadside Drug Tests
Uncovering the uncertainty of roadside drug tests
Throughout the year, countless people face drug charges in Maryland and other states. A recent report shows that around the country, close to 30,000 people might be wrongfully arrested and put in jail because of unreliable roadside field tests for drugs.
How roadside drug tests work
Roadside drug tests change colors when certain compounds found in drugs interact with them. However, individuals facing drug charges discover that these testing kits don’t only check for illicit drugs. They react to a variety of substances, including cotton candy, bird feces and even the glaze from a glazed doughnut.
The impact on people
Each year, these tests lead to wrongful arrests for drug possession, affecting up to 30,000 people. This number is staggering, especially as you consider that many undergo fear and uncertainty when facing a drug charge. People get arrested, booked, jailed and even charged based on kits that produce false positives. Although the tests weren’t designed to provide conclusive evidence of drug presence, people accept plea bargains when presented with this flawed evidence of drug charges, which allows them to avoid a court trial.
Need Help? Hire an Attentive Team to Defend Your Rights
Our law firm has offices in Annapolis and Centreville, and we provide legal services to clients throughout Maryland, including Crofton, Severn, Arnold, Millersville, Glen Burnie, Pasadena, Severna Park, Odenton, and Linthicum Heights.
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