Have you been charged for the abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult in Maryland? If so, you need a capable defense team to go to bat for you. A charge for abuse is a serious matter—it may result in incarceration, fines, and the stripping of your rights. Fortunately, the team at Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys is here to help. Contact us at at (301) 262-7005 for a free consultation today.
Why Work with Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys?
Backed by more than 125 years of practice, Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys understands how troubling it can be to face criminal conviction. We also understand how to defend against criminal charges to protect our clients from conviction—to date, we have defended thousands of clients throughout the state of Maryland. The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers®, and Martindale-Hubbell, among others, have acclaimed us for our effective representation. Put our extensive experience to work for you.
The Negative Consequences of a Criminal Conviction
If you stand accused of a crime, take this charge seriously. Even if you do not end up serving time in jail, convicted criminals face numerous consequences for criminal convictions.
- Makes finding a job harder: Employers can run a background check on you, including whether you have a criminal conviction.
- Complicates getting an apartment: Many landlords also run criminal background checks in addition to credit checks.
- Decreases your chances of getting into college: You can certainly explain how you have rehabilitated yourself, but college admissions are competitive everywhere. A criminal conviction can make gaining a slot in the class harder.
These collateral consequences can prevent you from getting back on your feet and rebuilding your life, even after you have paid your debt to society. To improve your chances of reaching a favorable outcome, hire a Maryland criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
How We Fight Your Criminal Charges in Maryland
A criminal charge can quickly change the course of your life. At Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys, our aggressive representation begins from the first moment you hire us.
Representation at Bond Hearings
We are skilled at making compelling arguments at bond hearings and getting the amount of bail reduced or eliminated. We will marshal the facts to show the judge that you are not a flight risk or a threat to the public or to witnesses in the case. In many situations, we can get clients released on their own recognizance, which means they do not have to post any money or collateral. Instead, you simply promise to show up to your future court hearings and any future trial.
Collecting Evidence
Your Maryland criminal lawyer also will not simply accept the state’s version of events. Instead, we know how to gather evidence ourselves, particularly hard-to-find evidence that can make the difference between winning a case and losing it.
For example, our evidence collection can encompass:
- Tracking down witnesses who would rather not be found. We can interview them to find out their sides of the story and subpoena them so that they must show up to court to testify, under oath, at trial.
- Examining physical evidence and reviewing the state’s chain of custody. Often, the evidence is compromised because the state cut corners when collecting it.
- Bolstering your alibi by interviewing witnesses or finding other evidence, such as proof that you were at a store or at an ATM when a crime took place.
This type of evidence collection takes time and know-how. At Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys, we recognize that many cases are won or lost at this early stage of the case, so we spare no resource in fully examining the factual record on your behalf.
Attacking the State’s Evidence
In addition to building a defense, we work aggressively to get key pieces of the state’s case thrown out of court. The state and federal constitutions place limits on how the police can collect evidence and how the state can use it. Often, the state violates these rules. If your Maryland criminal attorney objects, you can suppress this evidence, which means it may never see the light of day.
We have successfully suppressed:
- Incriminating statements and confessions made by defendants that the police collected without fully giving required Miranda warnings
- Incriminating statements and confessions obtained by police coercion in violation of the Due Process Clause
- Physical evidence collected without a search warrant or applicable extenuating circumstances
- Second-hand gossip and other hearsay the state tries to introduce at trial
- Unduly prejudicial guilt-by-association or character evidence the prosecutor attempts to smuggle into the trial in violation of the state’s rules of evidence
- Inflammatory statements in cross-examination or closing arguments as the prosecutor tries to get an edge in violation of Maryland’s rules of evidence
To successfully convince the court to throw out evidence, lawyers need experience, attention to detail, and an ability to think quickly on their feet. The Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys possess all of these qualities and are prepared to use them in your defense.
When we can’t get the court to throw out evidence, we will attack its credibility. For example, we will methodically cross-examine all of the state’s witnesses to uncover their hidden biases and bring their contractions to the attention of the judge and jury. We have successfully cross-examined hundreds of witnesses in our careers. We know how to patiently lay traps for even the most conniving witnesses and get them to impeach themselves.
Negotiations & Plea Bargains
At Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys, we are committed to achieving the most favorable result possible for our clients. However, sometimes the best possible outcome will be to take a plea bargain if the prosecutor offers one. We are fully prepared to take all cases to trial, but we also are ethically bound to explain to you the likely outcome if you try to fight your case in court.
By taking a plea bargain, you might agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge, or the prosecutor might recommend a lighter sentence, such as no time in jail. These can make for attractive options, depending on your life circumstances and the strength of the state’s evidence.
At Alpert Schreyer Criminal Defense Attorneys, we will help you fully understand the consequences of pleading guilty so that you can make an informed choice. Many factors go into the analysis, including your criminal history and whether you want to risk going to trial. Although we can help you think through the consequences of accepting a plea, the choice is ultimately yours.