Criminal Law Information

Washington DC Criminal Defense Attorneys

If you've been arrested for or charged with a crime, whether it's a misdemeanor drug charge or a felony murder case, who better to represent you than a former prosecutor? At Meng & Alpert, LLC, we have two former prosecutors who will fight hard to ensure that investigators protect your constitutional rights. Contact us today.

We can help, even if your case seems hopeless.

1-866-444-6363

Our firm represents people in Bethesda and throughout Southern Maryland, including Rockville, Gaithersburg, Chevy Chase, Oxon Hill, Glen Burnie, Silver Spring, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, and Metropolitan Washington D.C. Contact us today for your free consultation!

What to Do if You Are Falsely Accused of a Crime

Believe it or not, many people who are convicted of a crime and end up in prison were falsely accused. Although the American criminal justice system works in most cases, not all juries get things right and the consequences can be tragic. An innocent person pays the price for something he or she did not do, while the guilty party roams free. The best way to avoid such an unjust result and ensure the proper outcome when faced with criminal accusations is to immediately seek counsel from a criminal defense attorney. A Washington DC defense lawyer at our firm can help you to navigate through the complex criminal law procedures.

False-accusation Cases Involve the Same Procedures as All Criminal Cases

A defendant should never think that because he or she is innocent and has nothing to hide there is no need for legal representation. In fact, there is perhaps an even greater need for legal advocacy in the case of an individual who did not do what he or she is charged with. Some falsely accused defendants will negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecutor in order to avoid a trial and even the possibility of conviction and jail time. In certain cases, pleading guilty to a lesser offense may be the best option, even for innocent defendants, although this choice is always left to the accused himself or herself, and some defendants justifiably refuse to admit to doing anything they did not do. A criminal defense attorney can explain the criminal justice system to his or her clients and offer advice on tactics to use in a particular case

Wrongfully Accused Defendants May Have Recourse in the Civil Courts

If someone is falsely accused of a crime, pleads not guilty, and the charges are dismissed, he or she may be able to file suit against the person who brought the charges. For example, if a private citizen files a false criminal charge against another person, or falsely makes a complaint to a police officer that results in another's arrest, and if no conviction results, the accused may be able to sue the accuser for malicious prosecution. If a law enforcement officer was involved in bringing the false accusations, the accused may also have a claim for false imprisonment or for a civil rights violation, often called a Section 1983 action after the provision in the federal law creating that cause of action.

In a malicious prosecution case, the wrongfully accused plaintiff can recover his or her actual injuries, which include attorneys' fees to defend the underlying case in criminal court, the cost of any bail bond, lost wages, damages for embarrassment and humiliation, and damages for harm to his or her reputation. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded, above and beyond the actual damages suffered, in order to punish the person who raised the wrongful accusations and to discourage others from engaging in similar conduct.

To successfully maintain a malicious prosecution case, the plaintiff must show not only that the defendant is responsible for causing the criminal charges to be brought and that the charge was dismissed in criminal court, but also that the defendant had no reasonable basis on which to bring the charges in the first place. Generally that requires proof of lies or similar wrongful conduct. Simply showing that the charges were dropped or that a not-guilty verdict was reached is insufficient to show that the malicious prosecution defendant engaged in wrongful conduct, since in many cases the prosecuting attorney will dismiss a Maryland criminal case or juries will find a defendant not guilty based on insufficient evidence or the existence of a "reasonable doubt," even when they believe the accused actually committed the crime he or she was charged with.

Conclusion

A person falsely accused of committing a crime faces many of the same challenges as a guilty criminal defendant and has the same, if not an even greater, need for competent legal counsel. If the charges are ultimately dismissed or a not-guilty verdict is reached, the person falsely accused may be able to turn back to the court for recourse. Importantly, however, before contemplating a civil suit the falsely accused individual must focus on defending against the criminal charges. In order to do so, he or she should turn to a Bethesda MD criminal defense attorney at our firm.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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Meng & Alpert, LLC
14507 Main Street
P.O. Box 549
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
1-866-444-6363
1-301-627-1600
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From our offices in Maryland, our Bethesda criminal defense, personal injury, estate and trust litigation, real property litigation, and DUI/DWI lawyers handle cases throughout the entire state of Maryland, including Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, including the counties of Montgomery County, Howard County, Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County and Frederick County, as well as the cities of Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, Oxon Hill.  also defend individuals facing DUI charges in metropolitan Washington D.C.