Ellicott City, MD Criminal Defense Attorney

Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City, MD

The negative consequences of a criminal conviction can start long before you are actually convicted. The moment you are arrested, consequences are being imposed on you. You are presumed innocent until proven guilty, but you might not feel like you are being treated as innocent when you are sitting in a jail cell wearing an orange jumpsuit. Many people who are arrested for fairly minor crimes like DUI or simple assault sit in jail overnight or even over the weekend. Diamant Gerstein, LLC treats each of our clients as innocent. The burden is on the prosecutor to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are guilty. Our goal is to cast doubt on the state's case.

When you call us, our lawyers will answer the phone personally. We are available 24/7, so you can call us before your first court appearance and we will be there. It is best to make a call to an attorney as soon as you are given the opportunity if you have been arrested, or as soon as you are free to go if you are issued a citation and notice to appear. It is best to have an attorney representing you the first time you appear in court.

DUI Defense Strategies

DUI is one of the most common offenses people are accused of. A few possible defense strategies include:

• Excluding evidence - The state typically relies on the results of chemical testing and field sobriety tests to prove that a defendant was intoxicated while driving. Both tests are imperfect and often administered poorly. If that evidence is suppressed, the prosecutor - and more importantly, the judge - may quickly realize that there is not enough admissible evidence to prosecute you.
• Challenging the traffic stop - If the police illegally pulled you over, any evidence they find as a result of stopping you can be excluded.
• Involuntary intoxication - If you did not become intoxicated voluntarily, you may not be liable for a DUI. This often happens when cannabis-laced food is served at a party and is not clearly labeled.

These defenses are available even if you have multiple DUIs.

Ellicott City Defense Lawyers for Minor Traffic Offenses

Even a minor traffic crime like driving without a license or reckless driving can have a real impact on your life. These offenses are misdemeanors, not violations like a typical traffic ticket. Convictions put a lot of points on your license, jeopardizing your driving privileges. You must appear in court to address these charges. It is best to have legal representation present at your first appearance.

Assault and Domestic Violence Defense

Assaults against people you have a domestic relationship with are still prosecuted as assaults because Maryland does not have a specific domestic violence law. However, courts do flag cases that involve domestic violence. A few common defenses to assault include:

• Claiming self-defense - If you are being attacked, you can use reasonable force to protect yourself. Police sometimes get it wrong and inadvertently arrest someone who was only defending herself.
• Dismissal for lack of evidence - Assaults usually happen behind closed doors, where there are no witnesses. This means that assault cases are often one party's word against the other. If the other party was uninjured, there may be no evidence but her word.
• Going to trial and fighting for acquittal - You have the right to go to trial, and your attorney may advise you to exercise that right depending on the circumstances.

Our attorneys can conduct a thorough review of your case to create a customized and highly effective legal defense strategy.

Contact an Ellicott City, MD Criminal Defense Lawyer

Diamant Gerstein, LLC will do all it can to get you the best outcome possible. Our dedicated Ellicott City, MD criminal defense lawyers fight hard to protect your rights. Contact us at 301-560-2685 for a confidential consultation.