Beltsville, MD Criminal Defense Attorney

Aggressive Criminal Defense Lawyers for Clients in Beltsville, Maryland

If you have been accused of a crime in Maryland, your future might depend on a judge's decisions or a jury's verdict. The prosecutor in your case might seek the maximum penalty for your charges, putting you at further risk of losing your freedoms. Whatever charges you face, a Beltsville criminal defense attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case by protecting your rights in court.

At Salvado Law Offices, we provide comprehensive legal services for Beltsville residents who have been charged with criminal offenses. Our attorneys have decades of experience, bringing a deep knowledge of the law to every case we handle. When you work with our firm, we will fight for the best possible outcome in your case while defending against charges of misdemeanor and felony offenses.

Assault and Battery

The state of Maryland does not recognize a legal difference between assault and battery, and they are both charged under one offense. Under the sentencing guidelines for this charge, you could be incarcerated for years for something as simple as a bar fight, so it is in your best interests to work with an attorney who can help get your charges reduced or dropped.

The least severe assault charge you can get is reckless endangerment. This offense is often reserved for cases where you are accused of patently dangerous behavior that puts other people at risk of injury. You can also be charged with reckless endangerment for firing a gun from inside a car without regard for the safety of other people. This is a misdemeanor offense punishable by no more than five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

Second-degree assault covers inflicting intentional harm on another person or threatening to cause harm. This is a misdemeanor violation with the possibility of up to 10 years in jail and a $2,500 fine, which may be increased to $5,000 if an offense was allegedly committed against a first responder. First-degree assault is a felony defined as intentionally inflicting or attempting to inflict serious injury, such as strangling or shooting another person. As a felony, this crime is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

DUI/DWI

Maryland has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. Unlike many other states, which require a substantial burden of proof through chemical testing, you can be charged with drunk driving if an officer judges that you are impaired by alcohol behind the wheel. If your blood alcohol content reads above .08% in a chemical test, you will be charged with DUI per se. On a first conviction of DUI or DUI per se, you could be jailed for a year and face fines up to $1,000, as well as a possible license suspension.

Driving while impaired is a lesser offense that applies when your blood alcohol content measures below the legal limit of .08%, but you still show signs of drunkenness. The penalties for DWI are not as strict as a DUI conviction, but a conviction may still result in the suspension or revocation of your license, as well as fines and the possibility of jail time. When you are facing DUI or DWI charges, our attorneys will challenge the validity of the traffic stop and question the procedures of the officers to see if any evidence against you was unlawfully obtained.

Gun Crimes

Under state law, certain people are prohibited from owning firearms, including convicted felons, substance abusers, and domestic violence offenders. A violation of this law will result in felony charges that carry a possible prison sentence of between five and 15 years. Given the stakes of a conviction for these charges, we will exhaust every possible avenue of defense.

We also defend clients against other firearm crimes, including carrying a handgun without a license, concealed carry violations, and violent crimes involving guns.

Meet With a Beltsville Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested on criminal charges in Beltsville, you can protect yourself by working with a skilled criminal defense attorney. At Salvado Law Offices, we receive all clients without judgment, providing sound representation and counsel for all manner of offenses. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 301-933-1814 or contact us online.