Criminal Law Information

Maryland Felony Criminal Lawyers

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!

Felony Defense

The most serious types of crimes are referred to as felonies. The usual definition is that a felony is any crime that may be punished by more than a year's imprisonment or death. A crime that has a maximum sentence of a monetary fine or a short period of confinement in the local jail is not a felony. A statute may not specifically label an offense as a felony, but the punishment defines the offense as a felony. State criminal codes may call a crime an "aggravated" or a "gross" misdemeanor, but the offense calls for a sentence of more than one year in the state penal system. Those offenses will be treated as felonies. When crimes charged are more serious, the need for a Maryland felony criminal defense attorney to help a defendant through the process becomes even greater.

Felonies include both violent and non-violent crimes, such as grand theft, embezzlement of large sums of money, first degree assault or assault that causes severe bodily harm, all degrees of murder, rape, racketeering, large scale fraud, kidnapping, and serious drug crimes.

Felony Procedures

Special procedures apply when the charge is a felony. If a defendant is too poor to afford to hire a Bethesda felony defense attorney, the court will appoint one to represent him or her without charge. An attorney is not always appointed for less serious charges. Similarly, the defendant must usually be present for all or most parts of the court process when the charge is a felony. Some state laws require that felonies be charged only upon an indictment handed down by a grand jury, while lesser offenses may be charged by a written "complaint" or "information." The rules of evidence in some states provide that a defendant's or witness's testimony may be disregarded if he or she has been guilty of a felony, but the rule does not apply if he or she was guilty of only a less serious offense. Most importantly, some states have so-called "three strikes" laws, which provide that a person will be sentenced to life in prison on his or her third felony conviction. Three strikes laws do not apply to misdemeanor convictions. It is easy to see why a person charged with a felony needs the zealous representation of a criminal defense lawyer.

Substantive Law of Felonies

Designating a crime as a felony may affect other charges as well as the procedural law. For example, if an accidental death occurs during the commission of a felony, some states classify the crime as murder, while the crime is manslaughter if the death occurs during the commission of a lesser offense. Similarly, the common law defines the crime of burglary as entering another person's house without his or her permission, for the purpose of committing a felony in the house. If the purpose for entering was not the commission of a felony, the crime was not burglary. A conspiracy often will be punished more severely if the conspiracy was to commit a felony instead of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.

Consequences of Felony Convictions

If a person is convicted of a felony, he or she may find that his or her rights may be restricted more than those of a person convicted of a misdemeanor. Convicted felons usually serve more time incarcerated, and the conditions of their incarceration generally are more severe. There are many other consequences, as well. In many states, people convicted of felonies may not serve on juries. They may lose their right to vote or to engage in some professions like teaching or law. Felons are often prohibited from serving in the military or owning firearms. In addition, as noted above, many states have so-called "three strikes" laws that require that a person be sentenced to life upon his or her third felony conviction. Defense counsel can help you before trial, during a trial, and to return to a normal life as soon as possible.

Conclusion

The consequences of a felony conviction are severe and can last for a long time. The punishment is severe and there are other implications of the conviction that can stay in a person's life for many years to come. You need to protect your future. If you are facing felony criminal charges in Maryland, contact a Bethesda felony criminal defense attorney at our firm without delay.

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.