Serious Felonies Cases in Maryland
Child Pornography Cases In Annapolis & Ocean City
The expansion of the Internet has led to a dramatic increase in the number of prosecutions of these types of cases, particularly in the federal court system. The U.S. Department of Justice has made the prosecution of these cases one of its highest priorities in recent years. Accordingly, a significant portion of our caseload had been the defense of these cases in recent years. The defense of these cases often requires experience with the use of forensic computer experts. A detailed familiarity with relevant mandatory sentencing statutes as well as the federal sentencing guidelines applicable to these cases, is also required. These cases very often involve the use of psychiatric experts and referral to treatment to develop sentencing options relevant to these types of cases.
Child Sexual Abuse Cases
The prosecution of these cases has become a very high priority in the state court system in recent years. A very significant portion of our cases in recent years has been the defense of these cases. Maryland has very complex and tough sentencing laws, some of which are new, related to specific types of charges. Extensive experience with child sexual abuse cases is most helpful in providing effective representation in these cases. These cases very often involve the use of psychiatric experts and referral to treatment to develop sentencing options relevant to these types of cases.
Homicide Cases
The effective defense of homicide cases often requires extensive experience with the use of medical, scientific and psychiatric expert witness. One premeditated murder case which we successfully defended at trial required four separate expert witnesses for the defense including expert witnesses in the fields of forensic pathology and forensic psychiatry. These cases can be most complex from a medical and scientific standpoint and often rely on circumstantial evidence. Effective defense of these types of cases requires significant trial experience. Most homicide cases are prosecuted in state court but some are prosecuted in federal court if the homicide is related to a charge for which there is federal jurisdiction.
Assault Cases
Although felony assault cases are the most serious, often involving very long sentencing guideline recommendations, even misdemeanor assaults can carry the potential of multiyear prison sentences. Our assistance is most often requested in domestic assault cases given the significant increase in the numbers of prosecutions of these types of cases in recent years. These cases can often involve complex legal issues and potential defenses and require an experienced attorney to provide effective representation. Most assault cases are prosecuted in state court but some are prosecuted in federal court if the homicide is related to a charge for which there is federal jurisdiction.
Why Choose Law Offices of Murphy & Price?
Serious Cases require a serious lawyer
Drug Distribution Cases
Drug distribution cases involving the largest quantities of drugs are most often prosecuted in the federal courts. Most federal drug prosecutions involve charges of conspiracy. Effective representation in drug cases often requires extensive experience and knowledge of federal conspiracy law as well as the effect of conspiracy charges on the rules of evidence. The prosecution of cases involving smaller quantities of drugs are typically prosecuted in the state court system. All felony drug cases involve exposure to significant prison sentences.
Our experience with these cases has run the entire range from cases involving large international shipments of illegal drugs to distribution of very small quantities. These cases often involve potential defenses related to the legality of the search which led to the seizure of the drugs in question. An experienced defense attorney can be most helpful in advancing these defenses by way of pretrial motions practice. Our practice often involves the referral of clients to appropriate drug treatment programs in order to give the court an alternative sentencing option in the event of conviction.
Focal Areas
We regularly defend drug cases in the state courts in Anne Arundel County located in Annapolis. In Anne Arundel County itself, we service clients in Arnold, Cape St. Claire, Severna Park, Pasadena, Severn, Linthicum, Odenton, Crownsville, Millersville, Edgewater and Lothian.
We also appear regularly in the courts in Baltimore County in Towson, Catonsville and Owings Mills. Baltimore City, Howard County with courthouse in Ellicott City, Prince George’s County with courthouses in Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville, Montgomery County with courthouses in Rockville and Silver Spring as well as Queen Anne’s County with courthouse in Centreville, Talbot County with courthouse in Easton and Caroline County with courthouse in Denton and throughout Maryland, particularly on cases involving serious felonies. We have also defended cases in Frederick County, Hagerstown in Washington County, in Cumberland in Allegheny County, in Oakland in Garret County, Ocean City and Snow Hill in Worcester County, Salisbury in Wicomico County, Bel Air in Harford County, as well as Chestertown in Kent County.