Criminal Defense

The new movie, “Joker,” focuses on the relationship between the Joker’s mental health issues and his criminal behavior. A recent discussion with Dr. Imani Walker, a psychiatrist who also works as the medical Director of Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center in Los Angeles, helped to place a focus on the character’s disorders and his…

The seriousness of a possession of child pornography charge cannot be underestimated. Possession of depictions of a minor engaged in obscene actions or sexual conduct can lead to criminal charges for each and every picture. Convictions for each count can mean a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Anyone convicted a second time can…

The Baltimore Sun reported on October 9, 2019 that carjackings in the city are rising. In one example, the victim wasn’t even in his car. He was on his brother’s porch getting some sun when two people appeared and demanded that the 60-year-old man give them his car keys and phone. To emphasize their demand,…

People have perceptions of criminal defense mostly through TV, film, and literature. There’s the honorable Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, who fights for a just cause even though his client is found guilty. John Grisham’s novels give readers the idea that lawyers often learn through experience that the system is rigged, and that…

There’s a lot of DIY stuff out there – brewing beer, creating your own makeup, composting your own waste – that seems kinda silly, but they’re mostly harmless. If you really want to learn to make your own yarn from an alpaca, knock yourself out. (Just don’t hurt the alpaca.) But this latest offering? This…

“Breaking and entering” in Maryland is just another way to say “burglary.” Burglary is divided into four different degrees, based on severity: First degree burglary is breaking and entering into somebody’s home or structure with the intent to commit a theft or violent crime. Second degree burglary applies to storehouse (like sheds or garages), as…

There’s an old saying that tragedy is something awful happening to you, while comedy is something awful happening to somebody else. That goes for the law, too. If pranks and “jokes” cause someone else physical harm, there’s a good chance that you may be violating the law. If odd behavior seems quirky to you, it…

The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison released a sweeping crime plan which includes new deployment strategies, plans for improved technology, and other initiatives to help reduce violence. The plan includes a variety of ideas including: Fast response times for priority calls where life or property is endangered Micro-zones to focus…

The Loretto Police Department in Tennessee took the rare step of posting a warning on their Facebook page that trying to flush your drugs down the toilet to avoid arrest probably isn’t the best idea. According to a story in Buzzfeed, a suspect flushed his methamphetamine and several paraphernalia items down the toilet after he…

The Sonoma News reported on July 15, 2019, that a Sonoma Valley California man’s appeal of a 150-year sentence will not be overturned. A 71-year old man claimed that his age and the lower court’s decision to allow an additional four alleged victims to testify against him were grounds for appeal. The defendant/convict was a…