Potomac, MD Criminal Defense Attorneys

Dedicated Defense for Potomac, MD Criminal Accusations

Maryland can be far harsher on crime than other states. While most states cap the potential sentence for misdemeanor offenses at one year of incarceration, Maryland has no such limit. An offense like a DUI or simple assault can be punished by years behind bars. Felony offenses are an even more serious matter. Our state reserves the felony offense designation for the most serious crimes, like murder and rape.

If you are facing criminal charges, the consequences could be extreme. You need an experienced law firm like The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. on your side. Depending on what you are charged with, you may have options like going into a diversion program to avoid conviction or negotiating with the prosecution to have a felony reduced to a misdemeanor. Our attorneys will assess your case to find the best defense strategy for you.

Defending a Violent Crime Case

If you are charged with a crime of violence, know that the state is taking your case seriously. Violent crimes are a high priority to the prosecution because they always involve a victim who was harmed in some way. Assault and domestic violence can both result in felony charges if the victim suffered serious harm or a weapon was used.

If you were afraid that the alleged victim was going to hurt you, you may have a valid self-defense claim. Everyone has a right to use reasonable force to protect themselves against an attacker. Our attorneys will assess your case to determine whether arguing that you were defending yourself would help you. In felony cases, we may instead argue that the harm to the victim was not substantial enough to support felony charges.

Defenses to DUI Charges

Our lawyers are experienced in using many different DUI defenses to protect our clients. You may have a defense such as:

• Unfair field sobriety test conditions - Field sobriety tests are not particularly scientific, as they do not happen in a controlled setting but are instead administered on the side of the road wherever you happened to pull over.
• Unreliable blood or breath tests - Unless the police officers administering these tests did everything perfectly, there is a chance that the results were not accurate and should not be used against you in court.
• Illegal stop - If the traffic stop was illegal, your case will likely be thrown out.

Drug Possession and Drug Felonies

Drug possession is normally a misdemeanor, while drug trafficking or distribution are normally felonies. You may be charged with trafficking if you were traveling with a large quantity of an illicit substance. Distribution simply means providing a drug to at least one other person, even if you did not collect payment. Defense strategies for drug charges include:

• Diversion programs - If you have a substance abuse problem, you might be able to get treatment instead of jail time.
• Showing lack of knowledge - You may not have known that drugs were in your possession, such as if someone else left them in your car.
• Plea bargaining - If you are not a large-scale or routine distributor, we may be able to have your charges reduced to misdemeanor possession.

Murder and Manslaughter Defenses

Defending a murder or manslaughter case can be complicated, as the state is often eager to secure a conviction. Defense options may include:

• Proving a self-defense claim - If there is any evidence suggesting that you were acting in reasonable self-defense, you may be found not guilty at trial.
• Showing lack of intent or provocation - If you are charged with murder, showing that you did not plan the killing and were provoked or did not intend to kill the other person may result in the offense being downgraded to manslaughter.
• Fighting for a not guilty verdict - There are cases where the police have arrested the wrong person. The state simply may not have enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty.

Contact a Potomac, MD Criminal Defense Attorney

The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. fights for people who have been accused of crimes. Our dedicated Potomoc criminal defense lawyers will work carefully and strategically to develop the best possible defense strategy for you. Contact us at 301-589-9500 for a complimentary consultation.