A criminal charge requires that you attend trial and can result in incarceration and a criminal record. Any time you are charged with such matters you should hire an experienced attorney to appear with you in court and to guide you through the process.

I have over 20 years of experience in representing individuals who have been charged in with criminal or serious traffic charges, and have appeared in all of the suburban Maryland Courts on such matters.

The majority of cases I have handled have been District Court misdemeanor charges, but I have also defended a number of felony charges in the Circuit Court. It is essential in defending a criminal charge that you consult an attorney as soon as possible after a charge has been brought. You should not make any statements to the police until after consulting your attorney, nor should you consent to a search of your person or property unless you have been arrested or a search warrant has been issued. It is my experience that most criminal suspects believe it is in their interest to make a statement or consent to a search, but I have rarely seen anyone benefit by such behavior. If it is in your interest to make a statement you can always do so after consulting an attorney, at which time your attorney may be able to negotiate a reduced charge or immunity in return.

Once you have been charged with a crime or a serious traffic offense your attorney will need to investigate the state?s evidence, question their witness, and help you decide how to proceed in court. A vigorous criminal defense requires that your attorney has all the facts relating to your charge so that he can best determine how to proceed. If a trial is required, I have 20 years of experience defending criminal and serious traffic charges, and am familiar with the defenses which can be raised to such charges.

On the other hand it is frequently in a defendants interest to negotiate with the states attorney to reduce the charges (i.e. "Plea Bargain") and I have negotiated hundreds of such cases. If such a plea bargain is reached you must then be prepared for a sentencing hearing, which requires that you work with your attorney to avoid incarceration and minimize any sentence that may be imposed . Maryland has a unique statute which permits the court to impose "Probation Before Judgement" which avoids a criminal conviction from appearing on your record. This statute is frequently used to avoid a criminal record for first offenders and If you are in fact a first time offender I will work diligently to see that it is used in your case.

If you are charged with any criminal or serious traffic matter in any of the suburban Maryland Jurisdictions, please call the Offices of David C. Gardner to discuss your case.