Expungement of Criminal Charges in Maryland

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We have all made mistakes, both big and small, and we are deserving of second chances. This is the case, even when it pertains to a criminal record. Though you may have been young and foolish when you obtained a criminal record, no matter how minor, a criminal record can follow you throughout your life, impacting where you can live as well as the jobs for which you are hired and your chances to adopt a child or obtain federal assistance. This can be very frustrating, especially when you are trying to change your and your family’s lives for the better. Fortunately, depending on your situation, you may be able to receive an expungement of your criminal record. If you or a love has a criminal record that you would like expunged, contact an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney to help you navigate through the process.

Expungement in Maryland

Expungement is the legal process by which a former crime that is on your record is sealed from public view or destroyed completely if you meet certain requirements. These records can include police reports, court records, motor vehicle administration files, as well court recordings. However, in Maryland, not all crimes within your criminal record can be expunged. In Maryland, you can seek expungement if you have been arrested or detained by an officer but have not been charged with a crime, you have been convicted of a crime that is not considered a violent crime, if your crime was prior to 1975, you have been acquitted of a crime, you were pardoned by the Governor of Maryland, or if you have been convicted of a crime that is considered a Nuisance Crime.

Even though you may be eligible for an expungement based on the above crimes, there are still specific requirements regarding when and how your record can be expunged. Because the goal of expungement is to help you create a better future for yourself, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced criminal law attorney to determine whether the crimes you have been charged with are eligible for expungement.

Need Legal Advice?

Having a criminal record can affect your life on many levels. However, depending on your circumstances, your criminal record does not have to follow you forever. Here at Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA, we can help you determine whether your criminal record can be expunged, and then walk you through the process. If you or a loved one have a criminal record that you would like expunged, contact our office today for a consultation.

Conspiracy and Drug Offenses

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When you are charged with conspiracy, in some cases, you may be charged with additional crimes, as well. Conspiracy can be one of the most frustrating crimes to be charged with as it allows for law enforcement as well as prosecutors to pursue charges against you whether or not you were actually caught committing the crime. This also allows for law enforcement and prosecutors to go after a larger amount of people in hopes of finding a bigger culprit. Conspiracy charges, though misdemeanor in nature, can have lasting effects on your life, both professionally and personally. Because of this, if you or a loved one has been charged with conspiracy or any other crime, contact an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney to help you determine the best strategies for your case.

Conspiracy Related to Drug Offenses

In Maryland, conspiracy to commit a crime occurs when two or more people agree to engage in criminal activity. When you are charged with conspiracy, you should know that this is considered a separate and distinct charge from the actual criminal activity in which you were engaged. For example, you can be charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, as well as charged for the distribution of narcotics.

Though conspiracy is considered a common-law crime, prosecutors must still prove that all parties involved and charged with conspiracy had a meeting of the minds or an agreement and intended to commit a crime. A prosecutor can show this by intercepting conversations in text form, email, or through phone calls. In relation to drug offenses, conspiracy is often charged in drug trafficking cases where a person has transported drugs in between counties. Also, there are often mandatory minimums associated with drug offenses and conspiracy charges. For instance, Section 5-608(b) carries a minimum of 10 years for a second violation involving a Schedule I or II narcotic drug, including convictions for conspiracy. If you have been charged with conspiracy in relation to a drug offense, it is important to note that you can be deemed a repeat offender in the case of drugs, subjecting you to harsher consequences.

Need Legal Advice?

Conspiracy related to drug offenses can be a frustrating crime with which to be charged. These offenses almost never leave you unscathed when it relates to your personal and professional life, and though considered misdemeanors, they can have serious consequences. You need an experienced team to help you with your case and to help you navigate through the criminal justice process. If you or a loved one have been charged with conspiracy in relation to a drug offense, please do not hesitate to contact us. Here at Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA, we can be your voice and advocate on your behalf.

Can You Carry a Concealed Weapon in Maryland?

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Can You Carry a Concealed Weapon in Maryland?

 With all of the recent shootings in the news in this country, the gun control debate is raging. For those who choose to own as well as carry guns, it is important to know and understand the gun laws of Maryland and whether it is a crime to carry a concealed weapon in Maryland. Knowing the law can keep you from being arrested and facing a gun charge. If you or a loved one has been charged with a gun crime, seek legal representation and advice from an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney to help you strategize about the best possible outcomes for your case.

Concealed Weapons and the Law in Maryland

When it comes to restrictions and punishments for committing gun crimes, Maryland is one of the toughest states within the United States. One of the most common gun charges in the state is carrying, transporting, or wearing a concealed handgun without a permit. When you are charged with carrying a concealed handgun, there are certain requirements that the prosecutor must meet before you can be convicted. The prosecutor must show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you knowingly carried the gun on your person, or in other words, on yourself or within your vicinity.

The prosecutor must also prove that the gun is a handgun. This is because the crime of carrying, transporting, or wearing a concealed weapon does not pertain to shotguns, antique firearms, or rifles. Under Maryland law, a handgun includes a pistol, revolver, or any other gun that is meant to fire a bullet with the ability to be concealed. Gun charges can be complex and come with severe penalties is convicted. If you are facing gun charges in Maryland, it is best to seek legal advice and representation, so that a lawyer can gather all of the facts and circumstances of your case and build a defense strategy.

Need Legal Advice?

Guns can be used to help protect you and your family, but guns in the wrong hands can also harm you and your family. Regardless of on which side of the gun control debate you fall, it is important to know and understand the consequences of Maryland’s gun laws. Speaking with an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney at Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA can help you understand your rights, both constitutional and statutory, as they pertains to guns. Our attorneys will advocate on your behalf to help you receive the best results possible for your case. Contact our office today for a consultation.

Charged with a Felony? What an Attorney Can do for You

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Charged with a Felony? What an Attorney Can do for You

When you are charged with a crime, you will either be charged as committing a misdemeanor offense or as committing a felony offense. Though being charged with any crime can impact your personal and professional life, when you are convicted of a felony, the consequences are often more severe. In these cases, it is invaluable to have the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney as a criminal defense attorney can help you understand your charges, the sentencing process, and how your charges could be potentially mitigated. If you or a loved one has been convicted of a crime, it is in your best interest to seek an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney to help you strategize about your case.

Felony Offenses and What We Can do for You

In Maryland, when you are charged with a felony offense, a prosecutor’s main goal is to impose the most serious punishment for the crime with which you have been charged and will seek all evidence to try and prove that you have met all of the elements of the offense. These offenses can consist of, but are not limited to:

  • Extortion
  • Kidnapping
  • Rape
  • Hit and run
  • Larceny
  • White collar crimes
  • Robbery

These crimes are considered felonies because of the nature of the crime and the circumstances surrounding the crime. If you have been charged with a felony, then legal representation should be your number one concern as an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney can help you pursue a verdict of not guilty, if you are to go to trial for your charges. An experienced attorney can also help you receive decreased penalties if it can be shown that the circumstances surrounding your case does not meet all of the elements of the crime with which you have been charged. Sometimes, instead of receiving a prison sentence, an attorney can help you negotiate a deal for probation instead of a lengthy prison sentence.

Need Legal Advice?

When you are charged with a felony, the thought of a conviction and resulting sentence can be overwhelming. If convicted, you could face imprisonment, fines, and probation, not to mention the long-lasting impact that it will have on your personal and professional life. When these charges occur, you need legal representation from an attorney who is going to take the time advocate for you. If you or a loved one have been charged with committing a crime, contact an experienced Maryland criminal defense attorney at Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA.

Severe Punishment for Baltimore Driving Under the Influence Conviction

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According to a Baltimore CBS September 2017 report, a driver involved in a Route 50 crash in Anne Arundel County had four times the legal limit of alcohol in her system. Maryland State Police released new details in the fatal wrong way car accident that killed two people in July of 2017. Police now claim the at-fault driver, a 31-year-old female, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

She was allegedly driving the wrong way when she hit another vehicle head-on, killing herself and the other driver. The crash also injured two other people in another vehicle.

Police could not initially determine why the female driver allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road. The new report of alcohol in her bloodstream does shed new light on the investigation.

The July car accident was one of many deadly accident on Route 50.

DUI is Prohibited in Baltimore Under the Statute 21-902

Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or DUI, is illegal in Baltimore. It is illegal to have 0.08% or more alcohol in a driver’s blood system when operating a motor vehicle.

Penalties for DUI in Baltimore

The punishment for having a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, at or higher than 0.08% depends on the offense. A DUI offenses range from a first to third offense. The penalties are:

  • First DUI offense: Jail time for up to one year, life suspension for six months and a $1,000 fine. 12 points are added to the driving record.
  • Second DUI offense: Mandatory minimum five days jail time, $2,000 fine revoked license for a year and ignition interlock device installed to restore the license.
  • Third DUI offense: About three years in prison, $3,000 fine and loss of license for 18 months

 DUI and Driving While Intoxicated are not the Same Crime in Baltimore

In Baltimore, DUI and driving while intoxicated, or DWI, are separate crimes. They both involve being under the influence of alcohol. However, driving while intoxicated only takes a 0.07% BAC or lower. This means a driver could be below the legal limit in Baltimore and be arrested for driving under the influence.

Penalties for DWI in Baltimore

The penalties for DWI are less than DUI. However, it is still a harsh crime. The penalties include:

  • First DWI offense: Fine of $500, up to 60 days in jail. A 60-day suspended license and eight points added to the driver’s record
  • Second DWI offense: A year in jail, license suspension of 120 days and $500 fine
  • Third DWI offense: A year in jail and license suspension for one year

Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA will Help You with Your DUI or DWI Charge in Baltimore

 

You have been charged with either DUI or DWI. You need tough legal representation to prove your innocence. Contact us.