Maryland DUI Lawyers Blog

A second suspect in the murder of Washington DC middle school principal Brian Betts is set to plead guilty in Montgomery County on November 18th. Nineteen-year-old Alante Saunders pled guilty earlier this month to murder, admitting to pulling the trigger and firing the shots that killed Betts in his Silver Spring home in April of this year.

Co-defendant nineteen-year-old Sharif Lancaster is expected to plead guilty to charges of robbery and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony in Rockville Circuit Court on Thursday. Lancaster, the second of four young men charged in relation to the murder of Betts, was originally charged with first-degree murder among other charges in the case. Deontra Gray and Joel Johnson, both 19 years old, have also been charged for Betts' murder. According to Lancaster's Maryland criminal attorney, all four men initially denied responsibility for the shooting death of Betts and implicated their co-defendants in the crime.

The teens met Betts over a phone sex chat line, entering his home through a door Betts deliberately left unlocked after the chat. Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy conceded that the teens likely killed Betts accidentally during the commission of a robbery:

"We do not believe that this was a case where the homicide of Mr. Betts was pre-planned prior to arriving at the home."

According to police, Lancaster's fingerprints were found inside Betts's home. Prosecutors say that Saunders entered the home, heading upstairs to Betts' bedroom where the victim was shot from a distance. At some point after Saunders went in, Lancaster, Gray and Johnson followed suit. A sentencing date for Lancaster has not yet been determined, but under sentencing guidelines in the plea, he faces between twenty and thirty-five years in prison for the charges to which he is expected to plead guilty.

This article is presented by Price Benowitz LLp, serving Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. For more information, please visit our Virginia Criminal Lawyer and Washington DC Criminal Lawyer websites.

As part of her plea agreement, a Maryland teenager pled guilty to first degree murder charges in the slaying of a 57-year-old car salesman. As part of her plea in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Emily Geller, 18, could face up to 25 years in prison. Artie Ellis, 16, who was her boyfriend at the time of the murder, was also charged and reached a similar plea agreement. The Maryland criminal attorneys for both defendants state that the teenagers did not mean to kill the man in a robbery that went wrong.

Emily Gellar met the victim, Ali Zare, in May 2009, when he offered to give her a ride. Gellar said that Zare told her he was a car salesman who could get her a good deal on a car. He then paid Gellar to have sex with him in the basement of her home.

Later, Gellar and her boyfriend discussed robbing Zare. They planned for Gellar to lure Zare down a dark path with a promise of more sex for money and then the couple would beat and rob him. According to Gellar, after she convinced Zare to follow her into the woods, Ellis struck him in the head with a shovel, accidentally killing him. According to their Maryland criminal attorneys, Gellar and Ellis each blame the other for hatching the plan.

As part of the plea agreements in the case, prosecutors have agreed to seek a maximum sentence of 25 years as part of a suspended life sentence. Parole for the convicted teenagers must be approved by the governor's office.

This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal and DUI defense firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, please visit our Virginia Criminal Attorney website.

A 14-year old boy has been charged with first degree murder and first degree rape in the sexual assault and beating death of a teacher at Prince George's County's Cheltenham Youth Facility. Prosecutors have filed a motion to have the boy, who was 13 at the time of the murder, tried as an adult. If convicted as a juvenile, the boy would be held until he reached the age of 21; if convicted as an adult, he would face a sentence of up to life in prison. At a hearing scheduled for August 27, the teenager's Maryland criminal attorneys will discover whether they are defending their client against juvenile or adult charges.

The charges are the result of the death of Hannah Wheeling, 65, a general studies teacher at the Cheltenham Facility. Wheeling's body was found outside Murphy Cottage at the juvenile detention center. The suspect was a resident at Murphy Cottage at the time of the murder. The boys living at the Cottage, which sits outside the fence at Cheltenham, have no known history of mental illness or violent offenses, including sexual assault and murder. Additionally, the residents of Murphy Cottage are never supposed to be out of sight of a Cheltenham Facility staff member. Regardless of these precautions, Wheeling was raped and beaten to death at the facility. Her death has sparked an investigation into security measures and safety at the facility.

This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal and DUI defense firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, please visit our DC Federal Criminal Lawyer or Virginia Criminal Lawyer websites.

According to police, a man has confessed to the murder of Maryland artist Azin Naimi. Raymond Williams is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Detention Center after he confessed to killing the woman at an art studio where they both worked and dumping her body in a Washington DC alley. Williams is charged with first degree murder in the killing. It is not yet known if he has retained a Maryland criminal lawyer for his defense.

The art studio's surveillance video from July 18 shows Williams entering the building around 4:40 p.m. and Naimi arriving around 7:30. Later that evening, Williams departed in an SUV, but video does not show Naimi leaving the building. Prosecutors allege that between Naimi's arrival and Williams's departure, Williams used scissors to repeatedly stab the artist. He then attempted to clean and remove evidence from the scene and from the victim's body. Naimi's cell phone and traces of blood were found in the studio.

Early the next morning, Naimi's mother filed a missing person report when her daughter failed to return home or to answer the phone. Naimi's body was found in Washington DC several hours later, partially clothed with multiple stab wounds, broken ribs, and a black eye. Prosecutors call the murder a "heinous and violent act."

Williams admitted to killing Naimi in the studio, attempting to clear the scene of evidence, and transporting her body to DC.

The murder is Montgomery County's thirteenth homicide this year, already matching the total for 2009.

This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal and DUI defense firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, please visit our DC Federal Criminal Lawyer or Virginia Criminal Attorney websites.

A Maryland grand jury indicted a 15-year police veteran on charges of first degree murder and related handgun charges after a shooting outside a nightclub in June.

According to authorities, an off-duty police officer, Gahiji A. Tshamba, 36, used his service weapon to shoot Tyrone Brown, 32, multiple times at close range, killing the former Marine. According to witnesses, the shooting occurred as an over-reaction to Brown's groping of a female companion of Tshamba outside a Maryland nightclub.

Tshamba's Maryland criminal lawyer said that his client proclaims his innocence and that he is "eager" for his chance to prove his innocence at trial. He argues that, though off-duty, Tshamba put himself on duty when he witnessed a sexual assault, and that he fired the fatal shots when he became fearful for his own safety.

If convicted, the police officer faces a possible sentence of life in prison without parole for the first degree murder charge. The charge of using a handgun to commit a felony and crime of violence carries the possibility of an additional 20 years.

Tshamba was intended to be a key witness in an armed robbery case and a first degree assault case scheduled for September. Prosecutors now say that they will have to see if those trials can proceed without Tshamba's testimony. If not, those cases will likely be dismissed. The Maryland criminal attorneys for the defendants in those two cases did not comment publicly on Tshamba's indictment or the possibility of their clients' case dismissals.

This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal defense firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, please visit our DC Criminal Defense Lawyer website.

A Montgomery County man charged with murder after fatally shooting another armed man may have his charges reduced or dismissed after prosecutors have reviewed the evidence in the case. Larry A. Lamont, 27, was charged with first degree murder and the use of a handgun in a crime of violence after he shot and killed Marcus D. Duffin, 27, outside a Montgomery County residence.

After reviewing investigators' reports, prosecutors are anticipated to reduce or dismiss charges against Lamont, who was cooperative with authorities and immediately waived his Miranda rights to confess to the killing. Lamont told police that he shot Duffin after Duffin pulled a handgun on a third, unarmed man. If the first degree murder case goes to trial, Lamont's Maryland criminal lawyer could raise a "defense of others" argument, similar to a self-defense argument. Under Maryland law, a jury would acquit if they found that the defendant had a "reasonable belief that the third party was in imminent danger of bodily harm."

Lamont, who turned himself in to authorities shortly after the shooting, was cooperative with police, telling them his version of the events. He claims that Duffin and the third man were arguing when Duffin pulled a handgun and pointed it at the other man. Lamont fired, striking Duffin in the upper body and killing him. Lamont fled but turned himself in at a police station a short time later. Authorities report that Lamont appeared contrite and helpful during his confession.

At Lamont's bond hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Peter Feeney requested a delay while he reviewed the first degree murder charge, saying that the "viability" of the charges was questionable. Montgomery County District Judge Brian Kim granted a week's delay for a review of the investigation and charges.

This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal defense firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, please visit our DC Criminal Defense Lawyer and Virginia Criminal Lawyer websites.

Police report that the fatal shooting of an intruder at a Prince George's cCounty apartment complex appears to be justifiable homicide carried out in self-defense. According to police, 29-year-old Benjamin Jackson returned fire against an intruder who forced him into his apartment, wounding the suspect who later died at an area hospital. While an investigation is pending to determine whether or not Jackson will face charges, preliminary findings show that the shooting was justified. According to the Prince George's County State's Attorney, "Generally speaking, people do have a right to defend themselves and others in their homes, including deadly force in some circumstances." However, in comparison with criminal homicide, justifiable homicide cases are rare. According to 2008 FBI reports, there were only 204 firearm-related justifiable homicides compared with nearly 9,500 criminal murders involving firearms. While the use of deadly force in self-defense is rare, Maryland criminal lawyers understand how to utilize the theory of justification as a defense to murder charges.

In this case, although the shooting appears to be a classic case of self-defense, an investigation is still underway. Police have not yet determined whether the gun used by Jackson to shoot the intruder was possessed legally. Jackson has two prior misdemeanor convictions of carrying a concealed weapon in another state.

Additionally, the family of the man killed denies that he would be linked to such a violent crime. They report that he was a loving father of two and a youth mentor. However, the suspected intruder, tentatively identified as Keith L. Fletcher of Washington DC, is suspected in another robbery earlier that day and had an active warrant for his arrest stemming from his alleged involvement in a March carjacking and robbery. Fletcher was also arrested three times in 2008--twice for drug charges and once for robbery and assault. Fletcher's DC criminal defense attorney was successful in having all three cases dropped: one due to lack of evidence, one for an officer's failure to testify in court, and the third for the victim's inability to identify Fletcher as his attacker.

As the investigation into the incident continues, police are still looking for two other suspects who fled the scene of the home invasion.

This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal defense firm serving Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia. For more stories like this one, please visit our Washington DC Criminal Defense Lawyer blog.

It is the Constitutional right of every person accused of a criminal act to have a fair trial. It is the job of every Maryland criminal lawyer to ensure that people facing criminal charges in Maryland receive that fair trial by an impartial jury. The Constitution provides this right for all people, and that includes those already convicted and incarcerated on other charges.

Recently, an inmate at a Maryland state prison was indicted for the murder of his cellmate. Mario Lawrence Bowling, 44, was incarcerated at Western Correctional Institution after being convicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court of two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and assault. He was to serve 25 years. His cellmate, whom he is accused of killing, was serving a 100-year-sentence for murder.

As a result of his cellmate's death, Bowling was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. His Maryland criminal attorney successfully argued for a change of venue in Bowling's trial, saying that a local newspaper's erroneous statements would make it impossible for his client to receive a fair and impartial trial. The paper reported that Bowling was serving a sentence for murder, rather than robbery, implying a criminal history more severe than his actual record. A judge agreed that the false reporting might skew potential jurors' perceptions of the defendant and granted a change of venue. Bowling's trial is set to begin August 5.

A person's previous actions or criminal history are not necessarily indicators of his or her guilt in current cases. Bowling's status as a convicted felon should be irrelevant to the verdict in his upcoming trial. However, his Maryland criminal lawyer understood that public perception would be biased against his client as a result of the false local reports. Regardless of Bowling's criminal history or incarceration status, he -- just like every person charged with a crime in the U.S. -- is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

DNA testing in the United States has led to the release of over 200 wrongfully convicted people. However, instances still arise where law enforcement officials put people behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Many times, the sentencing following these wrongful convictions is severe, even going as far as the death penalty. Experienced Maryland criminal lawyers often see examples of wrongful convictions, particularly in long-standing murder or sexual assault cases. The lives of those wrongfully convicted are changed forever, and their personal liberties and freedoms are unfairly compromised. Kirk Bloodsworth, an innocent convict cleared through DNA evidence, now actively speaks out about his experience sitting on death row for a crime he did not commit.

In 1985, Bloodsworth was wrongfully convicted of Maryland murder charges in the death of a 9 year-old girl in Baltimore, MD. During the initial investigation over 25 years ago, his picture was picked out of a lineup by two boys, 8 and 10, who claimed to have seen the suspect before the murder. Bloodsworth was arrested and a criminal profile prompted his conviction. He was condemned to death row at the Maryland Penitentiary for eight years, 11 months, and nine days.

In the early 1990s,Bloodsworth learned of the first conviction using DNA as evidence. He realized that if DNA testing could be used to prove one's guilt, it could also be used to prove one's innocence. The death row inmate wrote a letter to the prosecuting attorney in his trial, requesting the recovered DNA evidence . The prosecutor falsely claimed that the evidence had been destroyed. Later, a court clerk found the evidence in the judge's chambers. Using this evidence, Bloodsworth's Maryland criminal defense lawyer began testing to compare Bloodsworth's DNA to that recovered during the course of the murder investigation. After one year, the results proved that Bloodsworth had been wrongfully convicted and did not murder the young girl.

Since being released in 1993, Bloodsworth began speaking out in favor of DNA testing in innocence claims nationwide. Despite his advocacy efforts and his proven innocence, his conviction still haunts him every day. Years after his proven innocence and release, Bloodsworth says he still receives harassing phone calls. Additionally, all of the monetary compensation received from the state for his wrongful conviction went to pay his lawyers' fees, leaving him with little to show for his time spent behind bars. Despite these obstacles, he continues to advocate on behalf of post-conviction DNA testing, as he can personally attribute to its importance.

An accusation of a crime for which you are innocent is a terrifying process to experience. As illustrated in the example of Kirk Bloodsworth, a wrongful conviction of a Maryland murder charge will be life altering, even if innocence is proved later. If Bloodsworth had not advocated for DNA comparison, he may still be sitting on death row for a crime he did not commit. The severity of this case attests to the importance of enlisting the services of a hard-working and aggressive Maryland criminal defense attorney. Diligent and trustworthy counsel will provide the highest quality legal advice and defense, protecting one's basic freedoms and liberties against a wrongful conviction.

Practicing near several university and college campuses, an experienced Maryland criminal lawyer will undoubtedly represent a number of college students accused of crimes. When young adults are left unsupervised with the added influence of alcohol, sometimes altercations can occur between college-aged partygoers resulting in significant legal repercussions. For example, after a fight started at an off-campus party at Frostburg State University, a student was shot and killed prompting the suspect to be charged with first-degree murder.

In the late evening hours of April 17th, FSU students threw an off-campus party, likely celebrating the end of school and pending summer vacation. Numerous confrontations began when Tyrone Hall, 21, was accused of assaulting a woman at the party. Although others at the party attempted to intervene, the arguing continued. According to law enforcement officials, "There was another confrontation, and then the suspect produced a 12-gauge shotgun." Hall allegedly fired two rounds striking partygoers. Immediately afterward, he fled into his home and stayed there until the cops arrived.

By the time police arrived at the scene, bullets had struck two people, including Brandon Carroll, 20, who was pronounced dead at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. The other student shot, Ellis Hartridge, underwent surgery and is expected to survive. Investigators allege that Hall was the only one at the party with a firearm, and claim both the gun and ammunition were found in his possession. As a result of the late-night altercation, Hall is facing Maryland murder charges, as well as two counts of assault. Currently, police officers are holding him in custody at the Allegany jail.

Facing Maryland murder charges is a traumatic process for anyone to go through, regardless if the individual is a student or not. Conviction of these criminal charges will change your life forever, and almost certainly result in a significant amount of jail time. Therefore it is important to act quickly in retaining an aggressive and trustworthy Maryland criminal defense lawyer.

Practicing law in a metropolitan city, an experienced Maryland criminal lawyer is likely to represent a number of people who have been accused of criminal charges. It is essential to seek legal counsel, as the advice they can provide may help eliminate or lessen the charges against the accused. In a recent case with similar circumstances, a Maryland woman who was indicted on alleged murder charges was released after pleading guilty to a lesser offense.

Hancock resident Grace Fink, 67, was indicted by a grand jury in December 2009 for her involvement in the murder-for-hire plot against her son's ex-girlfriend--she allegedly gave an undercover Maryland police officer posing as a hit man $200 for her murder. Fink's son, Clarence Meyers pled guilty two years ago to Maryland felony murder charges by arson when he set fire to home that he shared with his girlfriend, Melissa Linderman, and her two daughters who were killed. While serving a two life sentences for this conviction, Meyers was strangled to death in his cell, just weeks after he was indicted on charges of solicitation to commit murder and criminal conspiracy to commit murder involving Linderman.

After her son's death, Fink allegedly wanted to finish the plot Meyers began. The prosecution maintained that she wanted Linderman to be seriously injured or killed to prevent her from testifying at Meyer's sentencing. But according to Fink's Maryland murder lawyer, "Ms. Fink thought that the person who showed up at her home was a friend or relative," and that she simply wanted information as she believed that "Linderman had knowledge that would show how the fire was set," as opposed to wanting her killed. Fink stated that she gave the undercover officer $200 because she was frightened of him--the man told her that he would kill Linderman, but Fink replied that she only wanted information regarding her involvement in the fire. The defense argued a strong case that Fink's due process rights were violated and her statements were misstated, allowing her to plead guilty to a lesser charge of obstruction of justice.

Because a result of the criminal charges conviction, Fink was sentenced to five years in prison with all of it suspended other than the 105 days she already spent in the Washington County Detention Center since her December indictment. Therefore, under the sentence, Fink will have three years of unsupervised probation.

As seen by the example of Grace Fink, having a hard-working and aggressive Maryland criminal defense lawyer on your side can be essential to protecting your personal liberties and freedoms. Conviction of Maryland murder charges will have life-changing consequences and will result in jail time. It is important to retain legal counsel immediately for the best legal advice and legal representation. Doing so can help secure the most successful outcome for your case.

During the legal career of an experienced Maryland criminal lawyer, it is common to represent numerous individuals who have been accused of criminal charges, including murder charges. These individuals are often accused of committing gruesome and horrifying crimes to either complete strangers or to a loved one. Recently, a Maryland woman was convicted of murder after she allegedly killed two adopted special needs children, and stored their bodies in the freezer.

In 2008, law enforcement officials arrested Renee Bowman, 44, for Maryland child abuse charges and she were sentenced to twenty-five years behind bars. Her third adopted child escaped from her Lusby home out of a second story window--she was half nude and covered in blood and feces, telling neighbors that her mother beats her. When investigators searched Bowman's home, they were horrified to find the bodies of two young girls in a large freezer. She later admitted to officers that the bodies were of her two adopted daughters, Jasmine, 8, and Minnet, 10. Today, she was found sentenced to life in prison without parole on Maryland murder charges, as well as three counts of child abuse.

Bowman claimed that their bodies had been in the freezer since February 2008 and that Jasmine died of a stomach virus while Minnet died from a fall. However, the findings of the medical examiner did not match Bowman's story--it was discovered that the girls both died from asphyxiation and were wrapped in plastic and duct tape prior to being frozen. She had been the primary caregiver for Minnet since 2001, and the other two biological sisters since 2004. Because each of them was identified as a "special needs" child, Bowman was receiving $2,400 a month in government subsidies to care for the three girls. Total, she received an estimated $150,000 from the government while the bodies of the children were in the freezer.

Facing accusations of criminal charges is a difficult and overwhelming process for anyone to go through, regardless of the circumstances of the case. Conviction of murder charges will have life-changing consequences, namely jail time. To preserve your personal liberties and freedoms, it is essential to contact a hard-working Maryland murder lawyer immediately. Doing so can not only provide the best legal advice and legal representation, but also the most successful outcome for your case.

During the career of an experienced Maryland criminal lawyer, it is likely that clients will be represented who have been accused of criminal charges, including murder. The case becomes increasingly more complicated if the suspect in question is a minor, much like the recent incident surrounding a thirteen year-old boy who is suspected of killing a teacher at the state-run juvenile detention facility.

The body of sixty-five year-old Hannah Wheeling was found outside a housing facility, Murphy's Cottage, at the Prince George's County detention center at approximately 7:45 a.m. Thursday morning. A Maryland State spokesman stated on Friday that Wheeling died as a result of "multiple blunt-force trauma injuries." Additionally, medical examination of the body reveals that she was also sexually assaulted at the time of the murder. The teenager has yet to be booked with Maryland murder charges, and it is unclear at this time why or how he might have committed the crime.

The suspect was housed in Murphy's cottage, which houses twenty boys who have no history of mental illness of violent crime, including sex offenses, murder, or assault. Individuals housed at Murphy's cottage are supposed to be in the line of sight of a staff member at all hours of the day. However, it is unclear when Wheeling was killed--investigators have just confirmed that she arrived at school at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, and probably did not leave that evening.

Because he is a minor, prosecutors are scrambling to figure out how to prosecute the teen. According to Maryland State law, the prosecution would be forced to get a waiver from a juvenile court judge stating that an individual under the age of fifteen could be tried as an adult. At this time, the young man has been transported to another facility while Maryland law enforfcement officials continue their investigation of the murder charges.

Facing Maryland murder charges is a scary and overwhelming process for anyone to go through, regardless of age or previous charges. Conviction of murder charges will have life-changing consequences, undoubtedly resulting in jail time. For protection of your personal liberties, as well as the best legal advice and legal representation available, it is vital to contact a hard-working and aggressive Maryland criminal attorney immediately.

The legal career of an experienced Maryland criminal lawyer is based upon representing individuals who have been accused of a variety of criminal charges. Each client seeks counsel in an effort to avoid the severe consequences associated with conviction, particularly jail time. However, last week an inmate from a Baltimore jail escaped after tricking prison guards into letting him out.

On Thursday, the search began for Raymond Taylor, 26, who was at the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center serving three life sentences for attempted felony murder charges. The prison center is used to accommodate inmates who are awaiting trial for criminal charges or who are in transition from one jail to another. In the afternoon hours, Taylor was placed into a holding cell before his scheduled court time. However, another prisoner in the cell was supposed to be released at that time.

When prison guards came to release the other prisoner, Taylor stepped forward, presenting the his cellmate's identification card. In front of three prison workers he recited the other inmate's jail ID number and was released. It took over two hours for the mistake to be realized--the inmate really scheduled to be released was banging on the door, demanding to be released.

Law enforcement officials finally caught up with Taylor, taking him into custody.

Facing any type of criminal charges, particularly felony murder charges, is a difficult and overwhelming process for anyone to go through. Because conviction of murder has significant and life-changing consequences, it is essential to contacting a hard-working and trustworthy Maryland criminal attorney. Doing so immediately can help provide the best legal advice and legal representation possible for your case.