Maryland Criminal Lawyer

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Maryland (MD) or the District of Columbia (D.C.), whether a major felony, Maryland or D.C. drunk driving, dwi (driving while intoxicated), dui, possession of cds (controlled dangerous substance) our experienced criminal lawyer(s) at Belli, Weil & Grozbean, P.C. will be by your side each and every step of the criminal trial process.

Most people who are charged with a criminal offense do not realize that they can not wait until the last minute to hire a lawyer. Our lawyers at Belli, Weil & Grozbean, P.C. understand the criminal laws whether in (MD) Maryland or the District of Columbia (DC) and know how to prepare you for trial and utilize resources such as private investigators, psychologist, forensic experts, drunk driving and drug evaluators and rehabilitation facilities. Being charged with a felony, dwi or drug charge can send you to jail and should not be taken lightly.

Are you facing a loss of your drivers license because of being charged with drunk driving, dwi, possession of drugs, driving while suspended, speeding or reckless driving to name a few? Then Belli, Weil & Grozbean, P.C. can help you thru the administrative hearing process. Most people do not realize how long they can lose their license to drive and they will be going before an Administrative Law Judge who has the power to keep them from driving. Can you afford not to drive? Will you lose your job?

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM ARRESTED?  

KNOW YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS!

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ARRESTED!

I am told that I am under arrest. What does that mean? When you are arrested, you are taken into custody. This means that you are not free to leave the scene. Without being arrested, you can be detained, however, or held for questioning for a short time if a police officer or other person believes you may be involved in a crime. For example, an officer may detain you if you are carrying a large box near a burglary site. You can also be detained by storekeepers if they suspect you have stolen something. Whether you are arrested or detained, you do not have to answer any questions except to give your name and address and show some identification if requested.

1. WHAT RIGHTS DO I HAVE?

Whether you are an adult citizen or non-citizen, you have certain rights if you are arrested.
Before the law enforcement officer questions you, he or she should tell you that:

You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say may be used against you.
You have a right to have a lawyer present while you are questioned.
If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you.
These are your "Miranda" rights, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. If you are not given these warnings, your lawyer can ask that any statements you made to the police not be used against you in court. But this does not necessarily mean that your case will be dismissed. This does not apply if you volunteer information without being questioned by the police.

2. ONCE I AM TOLD MY RIGHTS, CAN I BE QUESTIONED?

You can be questioned, without a lawyer present, only if you voluntarily give up your rights and if you understand what you are giving up. If you agree to the questioning, then change your mind, questioning must stop as soon as you say that you want a lawyer. If the questioning continues after you request a lawyer and you continue to talk, your answers can be used against you if you testify to something different.

You may be required to give certain physical evidence. For example, if you are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol you may be requested to take a test to measure the amount of alcohol in your system. If you refuse to take the test, your driver's license will be suspended and the refusal will be used against you in court.

Once you are booked, meaning your arrest is written into official police records and you are fingerprinted and photographed, you have a right to make and complete three telephone calls that are free within the local dialing area.

3. WHEN SHOULD I SEE A LAWYER?

If you are arrested for a crime, particularly a serious one, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. He or she has a better sense of what you should and should not say to law enforcement officers to avoid being misinterpreted or misunderstood. The lawyer also can advise you or your family or friends on the bail process. There is no substitute for a good Maryland criminal defense lawyer.

4. WHO CAN ARREST ME?

All law enforcement officers - such as police officers, county sheriff officers, investigators in a district attorney's or an attorney general's offices and highway patrol officers - can arrest you whether they are on or off duty, in most cases. A probation or parole officer also can arrest you.

They can arrest you - even if they do not have an arrest warrant - if they have probable cause or good reason to believe you committed a felony, such as armed robbery. (A felony is a crime of a more serious nature than a misdemeanor, usually punishable by imprisonment for more than a year.) They do not have to see you commit a felony in order to arrest you. They do, however, have to see you commit a misdemeanor in order to arrest you.

If you commit an infraction, instead of taking you into custody, they may ask to sign a citation or notice. This is a minor offense, such as a moving violation, where the punishment usually is a fine. If you sign the citation, you are not admitting guilt; you are only promising to appear in court. If you have no identification or refuse to sign, however, an officer may take you into custody.

5. CAN SOMEONE OTHER THAN A POLICE OFFICER ARREST ME?

Any person, such as a private security guard, can make a citizen's arrest if they see a misdemeanor being attempted or committed. (A misdemeanor is a criminal offense, usually punishable with a fine or short jail term.) They also can make a legal arrest for a felony as long as it actually was committed and they have good reason to believe you did it. They must take you to a police officer or judge who is required by law to take you into custody.

6. WHEN IS AN ARREST WARRANT USED?

Usually a warrant is required before you can be taken into custody in your home. But you can be arrested at home without a warrant if fast action is needed to prevent you from escaping, destroying evidence, endangering someone's life or seriously damaging property.

The warrant must be signed by a magistrate or judge, who must have good reason to believe that you, whom the warrant names, committed a crime. If your name is unknown, "John Doe" can be used on the warrant - along with your description.

Once an arrest warrant is issued, any law enforcement officer in the state can arrest you - even if the officer does not have a copy of the warrant. Generally, there is no time limit on using a warrant to make an arrest.

Before entering your home, a law enforcement officer must knock and identify himself or herself and tell you that you are going to be arrested. If you refuse to open the door - or if there is another good reason - the officer can break in through a door or window.

If the police have an arrest warrant, you should be allowed to see it. If they don't have the warrant with them, you should be allowed to see it as soon as practical.

The police may search the area within your reach. If you are arrested outdoors, they may not search your home or car.

Resisting an arrest or detention is a crime. If you resist arrest, you can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony in addition to the crime for which you are being arrested. If you resist, an officer can use force to overcome your resistance or prevent your escape. The officer can even use deadly force if it appears you will use force to cause great bodily injury.