Glen Burnie, MD Weapon Crime Defense Attorneys

Skilled Criminal Defense Lawyers for Clients Accused of Weapon Crimes in Glen Burnie, Maryland

The state of Maryland takes weapon crimes seriously. Many weapons offenses are charged as felonies with hard prison time, and many offenses can be escalated to more serious penalties when they involve a firearm. If you have been accused of any weapons violation in Maryland, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible. A Glen Burnie criminal defense lawyer can provide you with aggressive advocacy to help safeguard your rights.

Contesting a weapons charge requires a thorough defense strategy. At Zide Law Group, LLC, our lawyers can meet with you to discuss your options to contest the charges against you, exploring all possibilities to have your sentence reduced or dismissed.

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

If you are caught illegally possessing a firearm, you could face serious criminal penalties. The exact punishment varies depending on the nature of the crime. For example, if you have been convicted of a violent crime in Maryland, you will be prohibited from owning a rifle or shotgun. If convicted of this specific firearm offense, you could be sentenced on felony charges carrying up to 15 years in prison.

Unlawfully carrying or transporting a handgun can also come with strict penalties. If you are found to have a handgun on your person without a valid permit, you could be charged with a misdemeanor and sentenced to up to five years in prison. At minimum, you will be sentenced to 30 days in jail, or 90 days if you are on public school property.

Fighting a charge of unlawful possession requires a careful review of the facts. Depending on the circumstances, we can challenge the link between you and the firearm, questioning whether you actually possessed it. Alternatively, we could argue that you had a legal right to own the firearm. These are only examples of strategies that we can employ, however, and they are not applicable to every situation.

Assault in the First Degree

You can be charged with assault for causing or attempting to cause serious injury to another person. Without any aggravating factors, assault is a misdemeanor offense that carries up to a decade of imprisonment on a conviction. However, the instant you brandish a deadly weapon such as a handgun, rifle, shotgun, or machine gun, the charges drastically increase. At this point, the crime becomes first-degree assault, punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison.

An assault conviction can strip you of your freedoms and put you behind bars for a significant portion of your bars. As such, it is important that you contest the allegations against you to the fullest degree.

Unlawful Transport of a Firearm

Law enforcement and prosecutors treat firearm trafficking offenses with the utmost seriousness. If you are accused of unlawfully transporting a firearm into the state with the intent to sell or traffic it, you could be charged with a misdemeanor with a possible 10-year prison sentence on a conviction, as well as a massive fine of up to $25,000. Note that every violation of this law counts as a separate crime, so you could face life-ruining penalties for selling weapons in bulk.

When a crime crosses state lines, the federal government is more likely to get involved. Federal crimes are charged separately from state-level offenses, and they often carry more severe penalties. When addressing charges related to weapons trafficking, it is crucial to work with a criminal defense lawyer who can help you understand the specific charges you may face and your best options for defense.

Meet With a Glen Burnie, Maryland Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer

At Zide Law Group, LLC, our Glen Burnie criminal defense attorneys can help you strategize around any weapons charge, whether you have been accused of a misdemeanor or a felony. To schedule a free initial consultation with our team of lawyers, call us at 410-760-9433 or contact us online today.