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Criminal Law Services

Criminal Law

Everyday in Maryland, people are charged with serious misdemeanor crimes and are suddenly facing severe consequences. A conviction for a misdemeanor in Maryland can have you facing penalties ranging from heavy fines to jail time and your criminal record may follow you around for the rest of your life.

At the Lafayette Law Office, we represent clients who have been charged with a variety of misdemeanor crimes. We provide aggressive legal service and personal attention that protects our clients' rights. We are dedicated to providing a high level of service and helping our clients to understand the potential consequences they face and the options that they have.

We provide criminal defense for individuals accused of misdemeanor crimes, including:

Shoplifting and theft
Assault and battery
Simple drug possession of marijuana

Any criminal conviction can have a serious impact on your future. While these are lesser offenses than felonies, misdemeanors can still result in loss of employment and difficulty obtaining a loan, housing or scholarships due to the impact on the criminal records of those convicted. Do not take a chance by failing to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney for your case.

Protective and Peace Orders

Being charged with domestic violence — even if you are falsely accused — will cause serious disruption in your day-to-day life. Not only will charges lead to a mark on your permanent record, but you may be unable to return to your home — at least temporarily.

We, at the Lafayette Law Office, provide diligent, aggressive representation to help you reduce the disruption in your life as much as possible and defeat the charges if we can. You should never hire an attorney who you aren't confident you can trust. We believe that the best way to decide if you can trust an attorney is to meet that attorney face-to-face.

How Will Domestic Violence Charges Affect You?

Domestic violence often involves two separate sets of charges: civil and criminal. The civil charges will result in a temporary order of protection preventing you from coming near the petitioner/plaintiff. If you live with the petitioner/plaintiff, this means you cannot go home. If you have children, you will be temporarily ordered away from them as well. The courts may also order temporary child support and custody to ensure the children have proper care. The temporary restraining order will only last for a limited amount of time. When that time has expired, you can have a hearing where you may present your case to a judge and potentially have the order dismissed. If the judge rules against you, the order may be put into effect for a full year and possibly longer.

If there are criminal charges in domestic violence, they usually consist of assault. If you have been charged with assault, we will work aggressively to help you fight those charges.

How Is a Peace Order Different from a Protective Order?

In general, protective orders are designed for married couples or couples with children. A peace order is for couples who are romantically involved but who do not share a residence. If they do not live together, then the plaintiff can file for a peace order demanding the defendant to stay away.

Please contact our office to schedule a consultation.