Criminal Law

The criminal justice system can be frightening and intimidating. Criminal charges that can result in a lifelong record, fine or imprisonment require aggressive protection of a client’s constitutional rights. As such, it is crucial to retain attorneys who can explain the process, navigate the system and protect their clients’ rights. Stein Sperling’s attorneys have extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the criminal justice system and use their experience to defend clients charged with violating the law.

Stein Sperling’s practice is comprised of trial lawyers who have a comprehensive understanding of both the federal and Maryland criminal justice systems. As former prosecutors, they apply their knowledge of the prosecutorial strategy, courts, judges and juries to effectively represent clients in criminal proceedings.

From the outset of representation, attorneys interact directly and frequently with clients because we believe a communicative, trusting relationship leads to the best possible results. Stein Sperling clients are active participants in their own cases, and we strive to learn as much as we can about them. We identify optimal character witnesses and use mental health assessments and employment history when appropriate, all of which help us to portray each client as an individual. If the client is ultimately convicted, these and other mitigating factors can aid our attorneys in presenting sentencing alternatives, including treatment and rehabilitation options.

While Stein Sperling attorneys are skilled courtroom advocates, the client’s best interests are often served through negotiations with the prosecution to obtain lesser charges or penalties. Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge to effectively and successfully do just that.

Criminal Law Attorneys

Serious Criminal Charges

Stein Sperling’s criminal law attorneys are aggressive advocates for clients facing serious criminal charges. With over 45 years of experience arguing high-profile cases in state and federal criminal courts, including representing minors before juvenile courts and juvenile authorities, we provide statewide representation for adults and juveniles charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.

We have considerable experience representing clients charged with felony crimes against persons, including murder, rape, manslaughter and robbery, as well as those charged with felony crimes against property, including larceny, arson and burglary. Stein Sperling’s criminal law team also regularly defends clients charged with misdemeanor crimes such as simple assault, theft, trespassing, destruction of property, conspiracy, perjury, professional misconduct (by public officials) and disorderly conduct, including resisting arrest. In addition, our attorneys have defended clients charged with sexual offenses, including child abuse and child pornography.

Because serious criminal charges can have devastating short- and long-term effects on a person, as well as his or her family, we apply compassion and discretion to every phase of each criminal matter we handle. Our attorneys help ensure that clients understand their rights and receive every possible protection available under the law, including the pursuit of expungement and coram nobis on behalf of clients seeking to purge their records of past charges.

Drug Charges

Stein Sperling’s criminal law attorneys regularly defend clients who face charges related to the distribution, sale, use, or possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, ecstasy, prescription drugs and others. Our wealth of experience in this area of law enables us to advise clients on all facets of their cases, including issues of unreasonable search and seizure. By working closely with clients, our goals are to help them clearly understand the allegations and the evidence in their cases and to develop strategies that lead to the best possible outcomes for them and their families.

Whether our clients are facing charges related to the distribution and sale of illicit substances, the use or possession of drugs or related paraphernalia or other misconduct, we aggressively defend their rights. As former state prosecutors, our department’s leadership can often anticipate strategies used by current prosecutors and law enforcement in clients’ cases. This allows us to proactively address issues of defense, rehabilitation and mitigation of sentencing.

DUI and DWI Traffic Offenses

Stein Sperling’s criminal law department regularly represents clients charged with traffic offenses in District Court as well as in hearings before the MVA. Each of these cases involves a careful evaluation of the evidence and facts available, including witness testimony, police reports and surveillance by traffic cameras where available, as well as breathalyzer, urinalysis and blood test results. Our attorneys rely on a network of external experts who testify as to vehicle speeds and road conditions on our clients’ behalf.

Some of the most serious traffic offenses we handle are Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), auto manslaughter and hit-and-run, all of which carry jail penalties. Being charged with these offenses is a life-changing event with far-reaching consequences for our client and his or her family, including incarceration, loss of driving privileges or even loss of employment. We assist clients in both the criminal and administrative aspects of their cases, aggressively pursuing all available defenses. We work closely with our clients to formulate strategies to eliminate or reduce jail time and other punitive actions against them while also increasing the likelihood the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) will not revoke or suspend their driving privileges. For these matters and others that are not incarcerable (e.g., reckless driving, negligent driving), our goals are to keep clients informed about the status of their cases during every step of the process and vigorously defend their rights.

White Collar Offenses

Drawing on years of experience representing clients in state and federal grand jury proceedings, Stein Sperling’s criminal law attorney’s assists clients charged with financial crimes, including tax evasion, embezzlement and fraud, as well as with computer and internet crimes. Our clients range from corporate CEOs to management-level or support staff employees, and these cases are often highly complex, involving numerous witnesses and financial documents. Regardless of the charges our clients face in white collar matters, we work closely with each to formulate strategies that effectively present his or her case to the prosecution or the court. Our goal is to minimize any negative impact these charges can have on family and professional relationships.

If a state or federal grand jury subpoenas our client, we do our best to determine the reason he or she has been called — usually as a target or a witness — and advise the client accordingly. This may mean counseling them to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights or seek immunity based on their testimony. In every case, we use our team’s extensive prosecutorial experience to evaluate potential risks and benefits to our clients’ participation in grand jury proceedings.

Domestic Violence

Stein Sperling’s criminal law department is adept at handling sensitive domestic violence cases in which our client are facing charges of battery, stalking or harassment. Our skilled attorneys evaluate the allegations presented by the accuser and vigorously defend our client’s rights, including their right to a fair trial. We are also experienced defenders of clients on the receiving end of restraining orders and peace orders.

Defending clients in domestic violence cases requires a depth of understanding of their personal circumstances and relationships. These matters demand counsel by knowledgeable attorneys whose experience is especially relevant for establishing case facts related to physical and forensic evidence as well as witness testimony. Our attorneys regularly provide such counsel to clients facing domestic violence charges, involving them in the development of case strategies as their cases evolve.

Sexual Offenses

Allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct have been on the rise, especially as they relate to contact with minors. State and federal authorities aggressively prosecute these crimes, so defending them requires aggressive representation by an experienced and knowledgeable attorney.

Our attorneys handle cases for clients who have been wrongfully accused of committing sex crimes, including rape, molestation, child sexual abuse, child pornography and lewd conduct. Often, these charges are used or misused for the purposes of revenge or retribution, which can be motivated by conflict within married, non-married, divorced and separated couples, as well as between estranged family members. Regardless of the allegations against our clients, we address issues of consent, tainted or insufficient evidence and mistaken identity.

Criminal Appeals

Stein Sperling’s criminal law attorneys understand that judges and juries might render a result that is not favorable to our client. We litigate criminal appeals from verdicts handed down in our clients’ cases as well as in cases first defended by other attorneys where a client asks us to take over. When appropriate, we are prepared to write motions for sentence reconsideration, as well as guilt or innocence appeals, for District and Circuit Courts throughout the state.

Before beginning the appeals process, we review the trial record to identify mistakes in how the proceedings were conducted. We then work closely with our clients to draft thorough and compelling appellate briefs, knowing we may have only one opportunity to appeal the court’s decision. In oral arguments, our clients benefit from our attorneys’ extensive experience in bench and jury trials, as well as their ability to present logical, well-prepared, evidence-based claims both creatively and strategically.

Administrative and Disciplinary Hearings

Stein Sperling’s criminal attorneys know that short of going to jail, losing a license to drive or practice one’s profession is one of the harshest penalties a person can suffer. It can put an individual or family at risk for financial ruin.

Our attorneys regularly assist clients in hearings before the MVA, reducing civil penalties for DUI/DWI and other traffic offenses. These penalties can include the accumulation of points on a person’s license as well as short- and long-term suspension of his or her license.

Additionally, we represent clients accused of professional misconduct or malpractice in administrative and disciplinary hearings. Our team has defended a diversity of medical professionals, including physicians, dentists, nurses and mental health professionals, before state licensing boards and ethics committees.