Silver Spring Criminal Defense Law Blog

Knowing the reasons why felony charges should be taken seriously is important for individuals who have been accused of committing a felony crime to understand. While all criminal charges should not be treated lightly, felony charges can be particularly serious because of the potential consequences and repercussions individuals accused of felony charges can face.

Felonies are considered the most serious criminal charges an accused individual can face under the United States system of criminal justice and can include murder, rape and robbery charges, among other criminal charges. They are differentiated from misdemeanor criminal charges and are generally considered more severe crimes that were, at common law, considered crimes of moral turpitude. In addition to being a more serious category of crime, which are oftentimes divided into degrees under the law, they can also be punished more seriously.

Individuals facing drunk driving charges face both criminal penalties and administrative sanctions which can be serious. It is important to know how to combat these charges and to understand the potential penalties and consequences faced when accused of drunk driving. Criminal penalties can include jail time and fines and administrative penalties can include driver's license suspension and revocation. The potential penalties and consequences, of course, can have a significant impact on the accused individual professionally, personally and financially.

For a first DUI offense in Maryland, the accused individual potentially faces 1 year in jail; a $1,000 fine; and driver's license revocation up to 6 months. For a second DUI offense, the accused individual faces up to two years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail; a $2,000 fine; and their driver's license may be revoked for up to 1 year. If the accused individual has 2 DUI convictions in five years, a mandatory driver's license suspension will be followed by a minimum period to have an ignition interlock device on their vehicle. Participation in an alcohol abuse assessment program may also be required.

Individuals who have been charged with robbery may wonder what the charges include. Robbery charges are felony charges, which means they carry potentially stiff penalties, beginning with a possible year or more in prison. Robbery generally refers to the taking of property with the use of force or by causing injury.

To be convicted of robbery, it generally must be established that the accused individual committed certain elements of the crime of robbery. Elements of robbery include the taking of property of another with the intent to deprive the owner of the property. The property must also be taken against the property owner's will by the use of violence, intimidation or threat of force. Each element of the crime depends on the circumstances or situation.

In a nearby Maryland community north of the Silver Springs area, a man is facing drug and weapons charges. According to authorities, they were called to the area based on a report of an individual with a firearm. Authorities found three men sitting on a step, and the man who was later arrested allegedly ran from police and tripped and fell.

The man was arrested and allegedly had heroin and cocaine in his possession. The man is now facing numerous criminal charges, including two counts of possession of drugs other than marijuana; two counts of possession with intent to distribute; distributing drugs with a firearm; using a firearm in a drug crime; possession of drugs with a firearm; using a firearm in a felony crime; illegal possession of a firearm; as well as other charges. In all, the 26-year old man is facing 13 criminal charges.