Towson Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you have been arrested in Towson or anywhere across Maryland, working with a skilled criminal defense lawyer is critical for protecting your rights. At Greenberg Law Offices, our attorneys have been serving the citizens of Maryland for over 60 years and across three generations.

Founded in 1966, we’ve always treated our clients like family. Our skilled negotiators and aggressive litigators fight to get the justice our clients deserve. We know how to stand up against police and prosecutors in criminal court procedures. Our team approaches every case with a willingness to go to trial and to do whatever it takes to protect our clients’ rights and interests. Moreover, we also understand that criminal charges affect everyone around the accused, so our attorneys like to meet with not only our clients but also their families.

Contact Greenberg Law Offices today to speak with an experienced Towson criminal defense lawyer about your case. We’ll review your charges and explain the potential penalties you could face. Then, we’ll review some of the defense strategies we may be able to use for your case.

How a Criminal Attorney in Towson Can Help You

A Towson criminal lawyer from Greenberg Law Offices can help you with your case in several ways, including the following:

  • Investigating the Case – We’ll investigate the alleged incident and collect evidence of your innocence or other evidence that our lawyers can use during plea agreement negotiations.
  • Providing Legal Advice – We’ll provide general legal advice, such as what to say and what not to say when speaking with police investigators or prosecutors.
  • Negotiating with Prosecutors – We’ll work with the prosecutors on your behalf to seek a favorable plea agreement if it is in your best interest or to get the charges dismissed if possible.
  • Filing Motions with the Court – We’ll dispute questionable evidence brought by the prosecution by filing motions to suppress with the court.
  • Representing You at Trial – We’ll represent you at trial and provide a robust defense against the prosecution’s case.

Why You Need a Lawyer When Facing Criminal Charges

You need a lawyer when facing criminal charges in Towson or anywhere across Maryland due to how a criminal conviction, or even an accusation, can impact your life. For example, if you are convicted of a crime, you may face legal penalties, including a hefty fine and significant jail or prison sentence, depending on the charges.

However, these legal penalties are only the start. Once you have a criminal conviction on your record, it will be harder to land a job, and you may be ineligible to hold certain jobs, depending on your offense. A conviction can also destroy your reputation in your community, causing friends and family to distance themselves from you.

For these reasons, it’s crucial that you work with a skilled criminal defense lawyer who will put your best interests first. The right legal representation can make all the difference and significantly impact your future for the better.

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

At Greenberg Law Offices, our lawyers handle a broad range of criminal cases, from the most serious, like homicide and sex crimes, to more minor offenses, like theft. We can also assist you in getting your driver’s license back after a suspension or expunging your criminal record if you meet the criteria.

  • Homicide – Homicide is one of the most serious offenses you can be charged with and may result in life imprisonment. It’s critical that you work with a skilled criminal defense attorney to defeat these charges or have the charges or penalties reduced through a plea agreement.
  • DWI/DUI – Driving while intoxicated may result in a jail sentence, fine, and the loss of your driver’s license, which can make it difficult to hold a job. Our lawyers can help you fight these charges by disputing the field sobriety and chemical test results.
  • Drug Crimes – Drug crimes range in severity from minor possession charges to serious manufacturing and trafficking charges. In some cases, federal drug charges may also be filed.
  • Assault/Domestic Violence – Assault and related offenses, like domestic violence, can lead to lengthy prison sentences and have a significant impact on your life if the charges aren’t defeated.
  • Theft – Property crimes like theft range in severity based on the value of the property stolen. Theft charges involving relatively low-value objects may be misdemeanors, while those involving high-value objects may be felonies.
  • White Collar Crimes – White collar crimes are financially motivated crimes, including fraud and embezzlement, that don’t cause physical harm to victims.
  • Sex Crimes – Sex crimes are some of the most severe crimes prosecutors can charge a person with. In addition to a prison sentence and fine, you may have to register as a sex offender if convicted.
  • Driver’s License Suspension – DWI and other traffic offenses may result in a suspension of your driver’s license. Our lawyers can help you seek license reinstatement.
  • Drug Distribution and Manufacturing – Distribution and manufacturing are more severe drug crimes than simple possession. However, these crimes are also more challenging for prosecutors to prove, requiring significant evidence.
  • Post-Conviction Expungement – Certain crimes can be expunged (removed) from your record if you meet specific criteria. Shielding is another option, under which the crimes are not removed from your record but no longer show up in publicly accessible searches.

What Steps You Should Take If You Have Been Arrested

After being arrested by the Baltimore County Police Department (or another police department in other Maryland counties), there are a few steps you should take to protect your rights and benefit your defense, including the following:

  • Exercising Your Right to Remain Silent – One of the most important rights you have after an arrest is the right to remain silent. The police may act like they’re on your side and are just trying to clear up a misunderstanding. In reality, however, they’re trying to get you to say something prosecutors can use against you.
  • Requesting to Have a Lawyer Present – In addition to having the right to remain silent, you have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. You should always request a lawyer who will immediately stop the police from asking further questions until you have legal counsel present.
  • Contacting a Criminal Defense Lawyer – A friend or family member can help you get in touch with a skilled criminal defense attorney, like those from Greenberg Law Offices.
  • Discussing Bail Options – Your attorney will review your bail options with you. Depending on the charges, you may be able to await trial from home.
  • Attending All Court Hearings – If you are able to make bail, you must make sure to attend all court hearings related to your case, or the judge may rescind your bail and issue a new warrant for your arrest.

Penalties You Could Face for Criminal Convictions in Towson

The penalties you could face for a criminal conviction in Towson depend on several factors, including the severity of the offense and whether you have previous convictions. Unlike some other states that use offense classifications to determine criminal penalties, Maryland has specific penalties for different crimes. Most of these offenses have a maximum term of imprisonment and fine associated with them.

For example, a conviction for threatening arson is a misdemeanor that can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. Assault in the first degree is a felony that can result in up to 25 years of imprisonment.

Potential Defenses to Charges You Are Facing

Some of the most common defenses used in Maryland criminal cases are:

  • Self-Defense – If you’re facing assault or weapons charges, you may be able to argue self-defense if you believe you or someone else was in danger of imminent harm.
  • Alibi – You may be able to show that you were somewhere else when the alleged crime occurred, such as by providing security camera footage.
  • Mistaken Identity – You may be able to show that you are the victim of mistaken identity if eyewitnesses cannot say with certainty that they saw you commit the crime.
  • False Accusation – You could be the victim of a false accusation, which can be common in domestic violence and sex crime cases. One of the most effective ways to prove a false accusation is to catch the accuser in their lies.
  • Lack of Intent – Many crimes require prosecutors to prove specific intent. If you did not intend to commit the crime, that can be an effective defense in many cases.
  • Lack of Evidence – By filing motions to dismiss certain questionable evidence, our lawyers can prevent the prosecution from having what it needs to prove that you committed a crime.
  • Entrapment – If you would not have committed the alleged crime if not for the encouragement of law enforcement, you may be able to use entrapment as a defense.
  • Illegal Search and Seizure – The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. If the police gathered evidence by conducting a search without a warrant, that evidence may be inadmissible in court.

Contact a Towson Criminal Defense Attorney Today

At Greenberg Law Offices, we have a reputation in Towson and throughout Maryland as attorneys who defend clients aggressively in complex criminal cases. Don’t let your reputation, freedom, and future suffer because of an arrest or conviction. Contact our law office today to speak with an experienced Towson criminal defense attorney about your case, and let our family help your family.