The crime of theft, sometimes referred to as larceny, is the unauthorized taking and carrying away of the property of another person with the intent to permanently deprive that person of his or her property. Theft can be either a misdemeanor or felony offense, depending on the value of the item or items allegedly taken. …
Robbery is the taking and carrying away of property from another or from property in that person’s immediate presence by force or threat of force and with the intent to deprive that person of the property. See Md. Code Criminal Law Ann. 3-402. What is Force? To support a robbery charge, force or a threat …
Reckless endangerment is when a person commits an act with awareness that his or her conduct created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person and consciously disregarded that risk. Contrary to popular belief, causing an actual injury to another person or causing another person’s death is not necessary to support …
Second-degree arson is when a person willfully and maliciously either sets fire to or burns a structure belonging to himself or herself or to another person. See Md. Code Criminal Law Ann. 6-103. What Does it Mean to Set Fire to a Structure? “Fire,” for the purpose of second-degree arson, means the actual burning or …
Third-degree burglary is a property crime in which a person breaks and enters someone else’s dwelling with the intent to commit any crime once inside. See Md. Code Ann. Criminal Law 6-204. A person who is convicted of burglary in the third degree is guilty of a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years of …
Under Md. Code Criminal Law Ann. 6-301, malicious destruction of property is a misdemeanor property crime in which a person willfully and maliciously destroys, damages, or defaces someone else’s property. What Does “Maliciously” Mean? An act is done “maliciously” if it is done knowingly and with deliberate intention to do harm or cause injury to …
First-degree assault a serious criminal offense that is committed when a person causes or attempts to cause a serious physical injury to another person without legal justification. Conduct that would normally be considered a second-degree assault that is coupled with the use of a firearm is also considered to be an assault in the first degree. See Md. Code …
A stet is a special type of disposition or resolution of a criminal or serious traffic case pursuant to Md. Rule 4-248 in which the State’s Attorney asks the court to mark a case as inactive or place it on what is sometimes referred to as the “stet docket” for three years, usually with one or more …
Within 90 days from the date of sentencing, a Defendant in a criminal or serious traffic case in either District or Circuit Court may file a motion for modification and/or reduction of sentence pursuant to Md. Rule 4-345 asking the court to essentially reconsider or modify the Defendant’s sentence. Can the Judge Increase My Sentence? No. Despite popular belief, …
Under Maryland law, a person may not engage in what is known as disorderly conduct or what is sometimes referred to as disturbing the peace. Several different actions are considered to be criminal conduct under the relevant Maryland statute. See Md. Code Criminal Law 10-201. Disorderly conduct includes the willful and without lawful purpose obstruction or hindrance …
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