Olney, MD Criminal Defense Attorney

Strategic Criminal Defense Lawyer Representing Clients in Olney, MD

Being convicted of a crime as minor as reckless driving can have a serious and lasting impact. Even less serious traffic crimes can lead to a loss of driving privileges, the consequences of which can rapidly spiral out of control until they have a disproportionate impact on your life. Being charged with a more serious crime that carries significant jail time, like a felony assault, puts you in greater jeopardy. Maryland's criminal statutes allow for very harsh sentencing at the court's discretion. If you are facing charges in Maryland, you need a knowledgeable and passionate criminal defense lawyer.

Diamant Gerstein, LLC will do all it can to reduce the impact of your charges. We can often ask the court to reduce the charges during plea bargaining, turning a DUI into a reckless driving charge, or a reckless driving charge into a speeding ticket. Some cases can even be dismissed for lack of evidence after we exclude any evidence stemming from an unlawful search or illegal traffic stop. Our dedicated Olney, MD criminal defense lawyers are available by phone 24/7.

Felony and Misdemeanor DUI Charges

A simple DUI is usually a misdemeanor charge, albeit a high-level misdemeanor. While being convicted of a DUI under any circumstances can lead to jail time, a DUI can be charged as a felony when there are circumstances making the case more serious. You might be charged with a felony DUI if:

• Someone got hurt - If there were any injuries to another person as a result of your driving drunk, you can face felony charges.
• There was a fatality - Vehicular homicides by drunk drivers are taken extremely seriously and can lead to long prison sentences.
• This is your fourth or subsequent DUI - Having three or more prior DUIs in the last ten years means you will automatically be charged with a felony. Repeat DUIs are taken seriously.
• You had a child passenger - Driving drunk with a child under 14 years old in the car is a felony.
• Your B.A.C. was extremely high - If your B.A.C. was over 0.20 percent, your case is more serious.

First and Second-Degree Assault

Second-degree assault is a misdemeanor. Making contact with someone in a way that is offensive but does not cause serious injury is likely to lead to misdemeanor assault charges. For example, pushing someone and causing him to stumble but not sustain any injuries would likely be a second-degree assault.

First-degree assault is a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years. You can be charged with first-degree assault if the victim was seriously injured or if you attempted to cause serious harm to the victim. Pushing someone down a flight of stairs and causing him to break his arm or suffer severe bruising would likely be a felony assault. Most injuries that require medical care or send the victim to the emergency room for evaluation will be considered serious.

Assaults against people you have a domestic relationship with are taken especially seriously. While Maryland does not separate typical assault charges from domestic violence incidents, courts do flag these cases.

Fighting Back Against Minor Traffic Charges

Even a minor traffic-related offense can jeopardize your driving privileges or result in steep fines. Our attorneys can help with traffic charges including:

• Reckless driving.
• Driving without a license.
• Driving on a suspended license.
• DUI or DWI.

If you are charged with a traffic offense, you do not have to plead guilty. You can be represented by a lawyer and fight back.

Contact an Olney, MD Criminal Defense Lawyer

Diamant Gerstein, LLC is dedicated to providing hands-on and strategic criminal defense services. Our experienced Olney, MD criminal defense lawyers will work to reduce the impact of your charges. Contact us at 301-560-2685 for a confidential consultation.