I remember a call one night from a distraught family in St. Mary’s County. Their son had been pulled over for a minor traffic violation, but that routine stop spiraled into a drug arrest with a litany of other charges. By the next morning, he was facing not just a possession charge, but accusations involving a firearm and an assault on an officer. Cases like this are far from unusual in my line of work.

I’m a criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC, and I’ve seen how drug charges can act as a fuse, igniting a chain reaction of far more serious allegations. In St. Mary’s County, drug-related arrests carry severe consequences and often intersect with almost every other category of crime – from white collar offenses to violent felonies.

In this post, I want to walk you through how drug crimes can overlap with various types of criminal charges. I’ll also highlight some recent trends (2019–2024) in St. Mary’s County for both adults and juveniles, sharing real case examples where possible. My goal is to paint a clear picture of why drug allegations are so perilous, and how the right defense strategy can make all the difference. So grab a coffee, and let’s dive into some stories from the trenches of Southern Maryland’s criminal courts.

When Drug Charges Don’t Stand Alone

One thing I emphasize to clients is that a drug arrest is rarely just about drugs. The presence of narcotics often elevates the severity of a situation or invites additional charges. Prosecutors in Maryland have little patience for drug-related crime, and they tend to “stack” charges to cover every angle. For example, in late 2024 St. Mary’s County saw what officials called the largest narcotics seizure in the county’s historys [mnewsnet.com]. A husband and wife were arrested with 47 pounds of cocaine, crack, and fentanyl, plus firearms and cash [smnewsnet.com]. Unsurprisingly, the indictment against them was massive – 21 counts ranging from drug trafficking to firearm felonies [smnewsnet.com]. In other words, a single incident can encompass multiple criminal categories, all triggered by the drug element.

It’s not just big trafficking cases, either. Even a small-time possession case can quickly entangle other offenses. Let’s break down how drug charges intersect with different crime categories:

White Collar Crime and Drug Offenses

When you think “drug crimes,” you might picture street deals or covert labs. But white collar crime – non-violent, financially motivated offenses – can also have surprising links to drugs. In my practice, I’ve seen professionals with opioid addictions embezzle funds to buy pills, and patients commit prescription fraud to feed a habit. In fact, prescription drug fraud is sometimes called the “white collar crime of the drug world,” often involving forged scripts or insiders in medical offices [mattmlaw.com].

A recent local example drives this home. In January 2025, a 32-year-old Mechanicsville woman was pulled over in Hollywood, MD for a minor traffic issue – a white light shining from the rear of her vehicle. By the end of that stop, she was in handcuffs, charged not only with drug possession but also identity fraud [smnewsnet.com]. Why? She knew she had an outstanding warrant, so she gave a fake name – her sister’s – to the deputy. That lie, unfortunately, is a crime in itself. When she was caught in the deception, a search of her truck turned up a small stash of crack cocaine, a strip of buprenorphine (an opioid medication), and several glass pipes with drug residue [smnewsnet.com]. She was subsequently indicted for “Fraud – Personal Identity to Avoid Prosecution,” plus drug possession and paraphernalia charges [smnewsnet.com]. What began as a simple traffic stop became a blend of a white collar offense (false identity = fraud) and drug charges.

I’ve also seen cases where respected members of the community fell into drug-related white collar crime. Consider the story of the St. Mary’s County EMS Chief who was arrested in 2024 for stealing narcotics from emergency medical kits [firehouse.com]. This was a person in a high-ranking, white-collar position, trusted with public safety, who succumbed to a fentanyl addiction. An investigation found he had been tampering with vials of fentanyl in medic bags and even at EMS facilities [firehouse.com]. In fact, it wasn’t his first offense – he’d been caught in 2019 for a similar theft of morphine and other medications. The chief eventually admitted he stole the drugs due to a personal struggle with substance abuse [firehouse.com]. Aside from the drug possession/theft charges, there’s a breach of trust element that can invite charges like misconduct or theft scheme – definitely a white collar flavor.

Bottom line: Drug problems can lead people to commit fraud, theft, and other white collar crimes they might otherwise never dream of doing. And when they get caught, they often face dual sets of charges – one set for the drug itself, and another for the fraudulent or theft-related activity surrounding it. In these situations, our job as defense attorneys is twofold: address the underlying drug issue (often through treatment) and untangle the web of financial or fraud charges to reduce the overall impact.

DUI and Traffic Violations Involving Drugs

If you drive in St. Mary’s County, you’ve surely seen the signs and ads warning against drunk driving. But many people don’t realize that driving under the influence (DUI) applies to drugs as well as alcohol. In Maryland, a DUI for narcotics or even prescription meds carries the same penalties as an alcohol-based DUI. In 2023 alone, over 11,800 people were arrested for driving under the influence in Maryland [mdsp.maryland.gov | mdsp.maryland.gov] – and a chunk of those involved drugs.

I’ve defended clients who were pulled over for erratic driving, and they hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol – but perhaps they had smoked marijuana or taken a painkiller. Law enforcement here is trained to spot drug impairment. They look for signs like dilated pupils, strange behavior, or the telltale odor of cannabis. Once they have reasonable suspicion, they might call in a drug recognition expert or search the car. If they find pills, powder, or any illegal substance, now you’re looking at DUI and drug possession charges.

For example, in February 2025, a 28-year-old driver in St. Mary’s County was charged with a slew of traffic offenses after allegedly driving while impaired by both alcohol and drugss [mnewsnet.com]. According to court records, he was cited for “driving while so far impaired by drugs/alcohol that he could not drive safely,” along with reckless and negligent driving charges [smnewsnet.com]. Luckily, that case did not involve any accident or injuries – it was a single-car property damage incident – but the list of charges was still extensive.

Another common scenario is the traffic stop that uncovers drugs. This is what happened with the Mechanicsville woman I mentioned earlier, and it happens regularly in police blotters. A vehicle gets stopped for a broken tail light or speeding; the officer smells marijuana or notices something off; next thing you know, the car is being searched. Consider a case from Lexington Park in June 2021: officers with a special Youth Gun Violence Task Force pulled over a car for a minor violation and immediately noticed the odor of marijuana [smnewsnet.com]. That gave them probable cause to search, and what a find – a passenger (21 years old) had a bag of cocaine, a bag of marijuana, and a loaded handgun stuffed between the seat cushions [smnewsnet.com]. He panicked and even assaulted a deputy while trying to flee, but was ultimately caught. That one traffic stop led to a dozen charges, including DUI (for being impaired), drug possession with intent to distribute, several gun felonies (“Loaded Handgun on Person/in Vehicle”), and second-degree assault on an officer [smnewsnet.com]. Talk about escalation!

For drivers, the takeaway is clear: any impairment or drug possession in a vehicle is a recipe for serious legal trouble. A simple moving violation can mushroom into a multi-charge arrest if drugs are involved. From a defense standpoint, these cases often present opportunities to challenge the stop or search (Was there probable cause to search the car? Was the DUI testing done correctly?). If we can knock out the legality of the search, we might get the drug evidence thrown out – which can make many of the related charges fall apart.

Violent Crime Fueled by Drugs

Violence and drugs have a toxic relationship. Many violent crimes– assaults, robberies, even homicides – have a drug angle lurking in the background. It might be a fight over drug money, a robbery to steal drugs, or someone high and out of control during an offense. In St. Mary’s County, like elsewhere, we’ve seen disturbing cases where drug involvement turned deadly or nearly deadly.

One trend getting a lot of attention is the rise in fentanyl-related violence. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has flooded our communities with devastating effects. Beyond the public health crisis of overdoses, it has changed how prosecutors handle certain cases. If a dealer sells drugs laced with fentanyl and a buyer dies, Maryland authorities are increasingly treating that death as a crime. In fact, Maryland’s top prosecutor (the Attorney General) has urged local State’s Attorneys to pursue manslaughter or murder charges against dealers whose product causes a fatal overdose [mgaleg.maryland.gov]. This isn’t just talk – it’s happening. In June 2023, Montgomery County Police arrested a 22-year-old alleged dealer and charged him with manslaughter (alongside drug distribution) after a man overdosed on fentanyl on Christmas Day [www2.montgomerycountymd.gov]. The medical examiner directly tied the death to the fentanyl the victim bought, and that was enough for a homicide charge [www2.montgomerycountymd.gov].

How does that relate to our neck of the woods? Southern Maryland isn’t exempt from the fentanyl crisis. We had a case in Lexington Park where a man named DeAundre “Dre” Keys sold fentanyl to three people in March 2021 – one of them died almost immediately after using it [justice.gov]. Keys was actually out on pretrial release (with a GPS ankle monitor) for previous charges at the time, yet he was still dealing. After the fatal overdose, federal prosecutors stepped in. In 2022, Keys pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl (resulting in death) and illegal possession of a firearm – he had a loaded “ghost gun” in his apartment when they arrested him [justice.gov]. While the charge wasn’t labeled “homicide,” the plea agreement acknowledged that the death occurred, which surely affected his sentence. Cases like this blur the line between a “drug crime” and a “violent crime” – no one shot a gun or stabbed anyone, but someone died all the same, and the law treats it as a homicide.

Even when a drug case doesn’t involve a death, violence can enter the picture. We’ve seen drug robberies where dealers or buyers stick each other up at gunpoint. Home invasions to steal drug stashes. Street fights over territory. In those instances, suspects can get charged with armed robbery, assault, or even attempted murder in addition to any drug charges. A startling example: A few years back, there was a rash of shootings in Lexington Park. In one incident, two teenagers (14 and 17 years old) were involved in a 1 a.m. shooting that left a man shot in the face. They were charged as adults with attempted murder and firearms offenses [firstsheriff.com]. That case wasn’t explicitly about drugs – it seemed to be more typical gun violence – but I mention it because it shows how severely St. Mary’s County treats youthful violence. Now imagine those teens had been selling drugs or fighting over a drug turf; the presence of narcotics could only have made their situation worse.

For defendants entangled in violent crime with a drug nexus, the stakes are incredibly high. The law can add “enhancements” or separate counts – like using a gun in a drug trafficking crime, causing death by distribution, etc. As defense counsel, our immediate focus is to de-escalate the situation legally: can we separate the drug evidence from the violent charge? Can we argue that an overdose was not a reasonably foreseeable result (to combat a manslaughter charge)? Each case requires a tailored approach, because a jury’s natural reaction to drugs + violence is very negative. It’s our job to ensure a client isn’t overcharged for essentially one bad episode.

Weapons Crimes and Drug Charges

Perhaps the most common (and dangerous) intersection we see is between drug offenses and weapons charges. Simply put, drugs and guns go together like gasoline and fire in the eyes of law enforcement. Maryland law has specific provisions to punish people extra if they possess a firearm while committing a drug crime. In practice, this means if you’re caught with a significant quantity of drugs and there’s a gun anywhere in the vicinity (on your person, in your vehicle, in your home), you could face a felony charge for firearm/drug trafficking on top of everything else [smnewsnet.com].

We already discussed a few examples: the Lexington Park traffic-stop case where the young man got hit with multiple gun charges for the handgun in the car, and the huge 2024 bust where the suspects had firearms along with the drugs. In that 2024 case, beyond the narcotics counts, the couple was charged with illegal possession of firearms in relation to drug trafficking [smnewsnet.com]. Specifically, they faced counts like “Firearm Use/Felony – Violent Crime” and “CDS: Possession of a Firearm During Drug Trafficking”[smnewsnet.com]. These are the kind of charges that carry stiff mandatory minimum sentences in many instances.

Even a law-abiding gun owner can get caught in this net. I’ve had clients who legally owned a firearm (with no prior record) but also had a side hustle selling marijuana or pills. The day the police raided their home on a tip, they found the personal handgun in a drawer alongside the drugs. That client suddenly went from a potential probation on a small drug distribution charge to a five-year mandatory sentence on a gun-drug combo charge. Why so harsh? Maryland (and federal law) wants to deter the deadly mix of guns and drugs by incapacitating offenders quickly. The assumption is that guns + drug trade = violence waiting to happen.

For context, the Uniform Crime Report for Maryland noted that while overall drug arrests have fluctuated, weapons offenses often track alongside the drug trade. In 2023, as drug arrests statewide actually dropped significantly (down 34% from the prior year, partly due to changes like marijuana decriminalization) [mdsp.maryland.gov], we still saw plenty of cases where guns were found with drugs – especially with organized dealers. St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office frequently reports in press releases about raids yielding “cash, drugs, and guns.” For instance, in a February 2025 raid on a suspected drug house in Great Mills, detectives seized quantities of cocaine and arrested a 28-year-old man along with firearms and cash found at the scene [smnewsnet.com]. The suspect ended up charged with multiple felonies spanning both drug laws and weapons laws.

From a defense viewpoint, separating the gun from the drug case is often a priority. We investigate questions like: Was the firearm actually in the client’s possession or control? Was it lawfully owned and stored? Can the prosecution really prove the gun was connected to the drug activity (and not just coincidentally present)? In some cases, we can negotiate a plea where either the drug charge or the gun charge is dropped in exchange for a concession on the other – for example, pleading to the drug offense while the state nolle prosses (dismisses) the weapon offense, especially if the gun was not used in any threatening way. Each outcome will differ, but one thing is constant: when drugs and guns mix, the urgency for a strong defense doubles.

Juvenile Offenses and Drug Crimes

As a parent as well as an attorney, I find juvenile drug cases particularly concerning. It’s tough to see teenagers caught up in the criminal justice system, knowing that one dumb mistake or one moment of bad influence could derail their future. In St. Mary’s County, we’ve had a mix of hopeful and worrying trends with youth in the last five years.

On one hand, there are initiatives like juvenile drug court programs aimed at rehabilitation. These programs recognize that a 16-year-old caught with a bag of pills doesn’t benefit from a jail cell – they need counseling, maybe rehab, education, and a second chance. I’ve had success stories where a young client completed a diversion program, got their charges dismissed, and genuinely turned things around. The Juvenile Drug Court in St. Mary’s (part of Maryland’s problem-solving courts) is designed to do exactly that – address substance abuse issues underlying delinquent behavior and prevent re-offending.

On the other hand, the stats show juvenile involvement in crime isn’t disappearing. In fact, while overall arrests in Maryland slightly declined in recent years, juvenile arrests have seen an uptick. Maryland State Police data indicates that juvenile arrests in 2023 were up by about 11.9% compared to 2022, even as adult arrests fell around 3.7% [mdsp.maryland.gov]. That’s a worrying bump. Some of that may be due to increased enforcement or post-pandemic societal changes, but it tells me more kids are getting entangled in serious situations. And some of those situations involve drugs – whether using, selling, or committing other offenses under the influence.

St. Mary’s County has witnessed some extreme cases where juveniles are charged as adults for grave offenses (like the Lexington Park shooting teens I described earlier). If a juvenile is involved in a drug-related offense that includes violence or large-scale dealing, the court can waive them up to adult court. Maryland law allows juveniles 16 or older to be charged as adults for certain violent felonies or if they were running a drug operation of a significant scale. Even younger teens can face adult charges for the most serious crimes (the 14-year-old in the shooting was charged with attempted murder as an adult) [firstsheriff.com]. While charging a kid with drug distribution alone in adult court is less common, it’s not impossible if the circumstances are egregious (for example, a 17-year-old caught with a kilo of cocaine and a gun might be treated as an adult offender).

For more everyday scenarios, think about schools and drugs. St. Mary’s County, like many communities, struggles with vaping and pills in schools. A teenager caught with a vape pen laced with THC or a few Adderall pills might face juvenile drug possession charges. These cases can usually be handled confidentially in juvenile court, where the focus is on education and treatment rather than punishment. But it requires skilled navigation – convincing the court that this was a one-time mistake, ensuring the youth gets help (substance abuse evaluation, etc.), and keeping their record clean. As defense attorneys, we act almost like counselors in these cases, working with the family, schools, and courts to find a resolution that avoids a lasting stain on the young person’s life.

The recent trend in St. Mary’s is a bit of a mixed bag: there have been crackdowns on any drug activity around schools, yet also a community push for prevention programs. The Sheriff’s Office even runs an annual Camp D.A.R.E for kids [firstsheriff.com]. My role often involves bridging these worlds – leveraging the community resources available to help a teen client, while also using legal tools to protect them (motions to suppress evidence from possibly illegal school searches, etc.).

At the end of the day, no one wants to see a teenager locked up for a drug mistake. The key is getting them a robust defense and intervention early. Many of the adult clients I see started their troubles as juveniles, and I can’t help but wonder how things might have been different if they’d had the kind of integrated support we strive to give our younger clients now.

Theft, Robbery, and Drug Motivations

Drug addictions can be all-consuming – to the point people will steal from others (or commit fraud, as discussed) to support their habit. Conversely, those involved in the drug trade often become targets for theft or robbery because of the cash and product they hold. Thus, there’s a strong link between theft crimes and drugs on both sides of the law.

On the petty theft end, I’ve represented folks who shoplifted items to pawn for drug money, or employees who skimmed from the register to buy pills. These are classic examples of how a drug dependency can drive someone to dishonesty. Judges will often see a string of theft charges on a defendant’s record and, upon closer look, realize the person has a substance abuse issue fueling it. As a defense, it’s powerful when we can show the court, “Yes, my client stole those items, but they were in the throes of addiction; since then, they’ve completed a treatment program and are on the road to recovery.” It humanizes the situation and often opens the door to alternatives like probation with treatment instead of jail.

At the more serious end, consider robberies and burglaries involving drugs. St. Mary’s County has had incidents of people breaking into pharmacies and homes to steal drugs. In April 2025, for instance, there was a burglary at the New Market Pharmacy in Mechanicsville – intruders tampered with the power and forced their way in during the early morning [smnewsnet.com]. It doesn’t take a detective to suspect they were after prescription narcotics (opioid pills on the black market can fetch a high price). In fact, that pharmacy had been hit multiple times. Such incidents blur the line: is it a “theft” crime or a “drug” crime? It’s both. The culprits, if caught, face burglary and theft charges and potentially charges related to possession of any stolen controlled substances. Another example: there have been home invasions where the assailants targeted a known drug dealer to steal cash or drugs – if caught, those thieves could be charged with armed robbery as well as drug possession if they end up holding the stolen narcotics.

We also see scenarios like the St. Mary’s EMS Chief’s case, which I mentioned earlier – stealing drugs from medic kits is essentially a theft crime driven by addiction. In that case, aside from the drug charges, he likely faced charges for theft or misconduct in office, given he abused his position to steal fentanyl [firehouse.com]. Similarly, an employee at a nursing home who sneaks pain meds intended for patients could face theft of medication (a form of theft scheme) along with drug possession charges.

From the legal side, when defending someone charged with theft or burglary where drugs are a factor, part of our strategy is often to address the drug issue head-on. If we can document a client’s addiction and show they are taking steps to treat it, we can sometimes negotiate for reduced charges or entry into a diversion program. The courts know that simply locking up an addict for stealing without tackling the addiction means they’ll be back again. For more serious robberies (say, an armed robbery of a dealer), the defense is trickier – we have to deal with the violent crime on its own terms – but even then, showing the client’s drug motivation can be part of explaining the context (though not excusing the crime). And importantly, if our client was the victim of a theft (e.g. they’re a small-time dealer who got robbed at gunpoint), and then the police charged them for the drugs, we have a whole different battle: we must separate our client from the robber’s actions and focus on perhaps an illegal search or lack of evidence tying the drugs to our client beyond being a victim of a crime themselves.

In St. Mary’s, law enforcement has been quite active in 2024–2025 in busting theft rings and burglary sprees – some purely for valuables, others likely for drug motives [smnewsnet.com]. As a community, the more we can do to treat addiction, the more we undercut these kinds of crimes. As an attorney, my role is to navigate the immediate legal peril and get my client into a better place so they don’t feel the need to steal again.

Murder/Homicide and Drug Cases

At first glance, you might not see how murder or homicide charges connect to drug crimes – but they can, in several ways. We touched on one already: drug-induced homicides, where a dealer is charged because someone died from the drugs they supplied. Maryland has been moving in the direction of holding dealers accountable for overdose deaths, using manslaughter or even second-degree “depraved heart” murder statutes in extreme cases [www2.montgomerycountymd.gov]. It’s a controversial tactic (some argue it won’t curb the opioid crisis and may discourage people from calling 911 in an overdose), but it’s definitely part of the landscape now.

Another overlap is through the felony murder rule. In Maryland, if someone is killed during the commission of certain felonies, the perpetrator can be charged with murder even if they didn’t intend to kill. So, if a person commits a robbery (a qualifying felony) to steal drugs or drug money and someone dies in the process (say a homeowner has a heart attack from fright, or an accomplice is shot by a third party), the robber can be charged with murder. A drug deal gone wrong that turns into a shootout can likewise lead to murder charges against survivors for any deaths that occur, because the underlying felony (drug distribution or armed robbery) set the stage.

We’ve unfortunately had a few violent deaths in St. Mary’s linked to the drug trade. Some years back there were turf wars between rival dealers which led to shootings. In one notable case, a young man was lured to a location under the pretense of a drug transaction and was then killed – the perpetrators were charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy (the drugs being the bait for the crime). In other instances, we’ve seen vigilante-type retaliation – for example, Person A sells bad drugs that hospitalize Person B, so Person B’s friends go and beat up or even kill Person A. Those are straight-up homicide or attempted murder cases, but the root cause was a drug conflict.

Even domestic situations can connect – perhaps someone addicted to drugs gets into a violent confrontation with a family member or partner over money or their behavior. If, God forbid, a death occurs (say a manslaughter during a heated argument), the fact that it was fueled by substance abuse might not change the charge, but it certainly becomes part of the narrative in court.

For defense attorneys handling cases at this extreme end – where a life was lost – the presence of drugs is a double-edged sword. On one hand, if our client is accused of being a dealer whose drugs caused a death, we have to scrutinize the evidence: Can they prove our client’s drugs were the direct cause? Is there an intervening factor? We look at toxicology (often there are multiple substances in the victim’s system) and causation issues. On the other hand, if our client is facing a murder charge that arose tangentially from a drug scenario (like a robbery or fight), we might work to sever the drug aspect when possible, so the jury focuses on the core facts and not the inflammatory detail that “drugs were involved.” It really depends on the case.

One encouraging sign: St. Mary’s County has put effort into drug prevention and treatment, which indirectly helps prevent the deadly violence that can stem from the drug world. More accessible Narcan (to prevent overdose deaths), more treatment beds, and narcotics task force efforts to get dealers off the street all contribute to fewer tragic outcomes. But when a tragedy does occur, you can bet the prosecutors will throw everything including the kitchen sink at the case – combining drug charges, gun enhancements, murder charges, whatever fits. That’s when a seasoned defense team is most crucial, to ensure the client’s rights are preserved and that they are not over-penalized beyond what the evidence truly supports.

Sex Crimes and Drug Intersections

At first, you might not see a connection between sex crimes and drug charges, but in practice there are a few notable overlaps. As a defense attorney, I’ve encountered cases where drugs were an element of a sexual offense, making an already serious charge even more complicated.

One area is drug-facilitated sexual assault – commonly known in the media as date rape or someone being drugged without their consent. If a person is accused of sexually assaulting someone and allegedly using a drug (like slipping benzodiazepines or even fentanyl into the victim’s drink) to incapacitate them, the accused may face charges for the sexual assault and separate charges for administering the drug. Maryland authorities take this extremely seriously. In fact, the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy Committee in recent years has specifically focused on improving the state’s response to drug-facilitated sexual assaults [marylandattorneygeneral.gov]. This means police and hospitals are being trained to better collect evidence of drugs in the victim’s system and prosecutors are keen on adding on charges like poisoning or distribution of a controlled substance in addition to rape/sexual assault charges. For the accused, that’s a nightmare scenario – you’re defending against multiple fronts, and evidence of a drug can inflame a jury’s outrage.

Another overlap: sometimes individuals engaged in prostitution or sex work also face drug issues. I’ve represented clients charged with prostitution who were also found with narcotics. The cases themselves weren’t “sex crimes” in the violent sense, but technically crimes of a sexual nature (prostitution is illegal in Maryland) compounded by drug possession. There are also cases of human trafficking/pimping where the trafficker keeps victims compliant through drug addiction – those traffickers, if caught, face charges for trafficking and separate drug distribution charges for supplying the drugs. Likewise, a victim of trafficking who is coerced into using drugs might later be found with drugs and charged (which is tragic, and something the system is trying to get better about, by treating them as victims in need of help rather than offenders).

And consider situations of sexual assault in a domestic context – say a boyfriend is accused of sexual assault of his girlfriend, and when the police arrest him, they find he’s in possession of illegal substances. Or vice versa: someone reports a sexual abuse, and during investigation, law enforcement discovers the victim was given drugs or the location had drugs present. All of this can mix charges together.

From a defense perspective, when drugs and sex charges collide, it’s a delicate matter. Sex crime charges are already some of the most emotionally charged cases in criminal law. Adding drugs can cut both ways: sometimes the presence of drugs can muddy the consent question (if both parties were using drugs, for instance, it might be argued that memories or perceptions are unreliable – I’ve seen cases where consensual encounters are later doubted because one party was high and misinterpreted events). Other times, the drugs make things far worse for the defendant (evidence that the defendant intentionally drugged the victim is extremely damaging). Our approach is highly case-specific. We may need to bring in toxicology experts or challenge the handling of blood/urine evidence (was the drug test done properly? chain of custody?). We also look at any constitutional issues – e.g., if the police searched my client’s home during a sex assault investigation and found drugs, was that search within the scope of the warrant or consent? If not, we might suppress the drug evidence.

One piece of advice I give to folks: If you are being investigated for any serious accusation (sexual or otherwise), do not compound your problems by leaving drugs in plain view or on your person. That sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed how many times people get piled-on with extra charges because, when arrested, they had a couple of pills in their pocket. Suddenly a case that might have been one allegation turns into two or three. If you’re struggling with addiction or drug use, getting help can not only improve your life but also prevent you from being in a compromised position if you ever have a run-in with the law on unrelated matters.

Maryland is continuing to evolve its approach to the nexus of sex crimes and drugs. There is even discussion of creating enhanced penalties for offenders who use drugs to commit sex crimes, similar to how using a weapon enhances a sentence. The legislature hasn’t passed something like that as of my writing, but the climate is such that those who drug and assault someone are likely to face very aggressive prosecution.

Trends in St. Mary’s County (2019–2024): Adults and Juveniles

Stepping back a bit, let’s talk about some overall trends in St. Mary’s County regarding drug-related arrests and prosecutions in the last five or so years. Understanding the landscape helps put individual cases in context.

Adult trends: Broadly, Maryland saw a surge in opioid and fentanyl cases in the late 2010s, and St. Mary’s was no exception. We had record numbers of overdoses (both fatal and non-fatal) around 2020-2021. Public data showed St. Mary’s County had about 20 fatal overdoses in 2022 and dozens of non-fatal ones (thanks to emergency Narcan saves) [thebaynet.com]. The law enforcement response was a mix of tough love and compassion: the Sheriff’s Office beefed up the Vice/Narcotics unit for big traffickers, while the Health Department increased treatment outreach. By 2023, interestingly, the number of drug arrests actually dropped significantly statewide – there were 8,574 drug offense arrests in Maryland in 2023, down 34% from 2022 [mdsp.maryland.gov]. Locally, this may be partly due to the decriminalization/legalization of small amounts of marijuana (police aren’t busting people for a joint anymore). It may also reflect a strategic shift to focus on major dealers rather than users. However, the arrests that do happen tend to be more serious: multi-charge cases as we’ve been discussing. We’re hearing about large busts (like the 47-pound cocaine/fentanyl seizure in 2024 [smnewsnet.com]) and complex investigations that take months.

Another trend for adults is the increased use of federal prosecution for drug cases. If you get caught in St. Mary’s running a sizeable operation, don’t be surprised if the feds pick up the case, especially if it involves interstate activity or guns. Federal sentences can be harsher and have less flexibility, which is all the more reason to have strong legal representation early to try to keep a case in state court or negotiate something reasonable.

Juvenile trends: I mentioned earlier that juvenile arrest numbers have risen in recent data [mdsp.maryland.gov]. In St. Mary’s, a lot of juvenile cases we see are either status offenses (like kids vaping or with a tiny amount of weed at school – which might not even be a crime for an adult now if weed is legal, but for a minor it’s still not allowed) or property crimes (teens breaking into cars, etc.), some of which tie back to kids looking for money or items to trade – sometimes for drugs. There have been some high-profile incidents of juvenile violence, like the attempted murder case and some armed robberies. The county’s approach under State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling (elected in 2022) has been firm but fair. They are certainly willing to charge juveniles as adults in egregious cases (as we saw in 2025 with the 14-year-old shooter) [firstsheriff.com], but for lesser offenses there’s an emphasis on diversion, as long as the youth shows willingness to reform.

One positive development: the community is recognizing the need to engage kids before they get in trouble. There are school resource officers running education on drugs, and community centers offering activities to keep youth busy. The opioid crisis has even led to programs where recovering young addicts speak at schools about their experiences. The hope is to curb the entry of youth into the pipeline of drug use and crime.

However, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room – fentanyl. The fentanyl scourge doesn’t discriminate by age. There have been cases of high schoolers overdosing (thankfully, many saved by Narcan). Pills like counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl have made the rounds among teens. This is incredibly scary; one pill can kill. Law enforcement has been conducting awareness campaigns, and yes, going after anyone who might be distributing to minors with every tool available.

In summary, the past five years in St. Mary’s County show a shift towards tackling the worst drug threats (fentanyl, large-scale dealers) with vigor, while also trying to channel minor offenders (especially youth) into help rather than just punishment. But if you or a loved one ends up arrested in this climate, know that the charges won’t be taken lightly – the court will likely assume the worst until proven otherwise. That’s why mounting a comprehensive defense early is so critical.

How the Right Attorney Can Make a Difference

By now, you’ve seen how easily drug-related situations can spiral into multi-faceted legal crises. As a criminal defense attorney practicing here in St. Mary’s (and across Southern Maryland), I can’t stress enough: early and skilled legal intervention is key to preventing a worst-case outcome.

At The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC, we approach these cases with a few goals in mind from day one:

• Preventing “charge stacking” from overwhelming our client: Often, we can talk to the State’s Attorney’s Office early and get some charges dropped or reduced. For example, if someone is charged with five different counts (say, possession of CDS, possession with intent to distribute, plus three related to a handgun), a negotiated deal might consolidate those to one or two charges. We highlight when certain charges are redundant or overkill. The difference between facing one felony vs. five can be the difference between probation and decades in prison.
• Challenging illegal searches or violations of rights: A huge part of drug cases is how the evidence was obtained. We comb through police reports and bodycam footage. Was the traffic stop justified? Did the police have a warrant, and was it executed correctly? Were Miranda rights read before that incriminating statement was made? If we find a constitutional issue, we file motions to suppress evidence. I’ve had cases where the entire drug charge got thrown out because the officer didn’t have proper cause to open a glovebox where drugs were found. When evidence gets suppressed, charges often get dismissed or drastically reduced.
• Exploring treatment options and alternative sentencing: Especially for first-time offenders or those struggling with addiction, we push for solutions that address the root problem. St. Mary’s County has diversion programs, and even in regular sentencing, judges can order drug treatment as part of probation. We’ve had clients go to inpatient rehab while their case is pending – demonstrating to the court that they’re taking responsibility. Many times, this approach convinces a prosecutor or judge to lessen the penalties. I’ve seen clients avoid jail entirely because they showed commitment to recovery; instead they got probation with the requirement to continue treatment.
• Navigating the complexities of multi-category charges: Because, as we’ve discussed, a single arrest can involve so many areas of law, you want an attorney (or a team) who is experienced in all of those areas. Our firm handles the full spectrum – drug charges, DUI, firearms offenses, juvenile cases, violent crimes, you name it. That means we’re not thrown off when a case touches several domains. We know, for instance, how a gun charge might affect a drug case’s plea bargaining or how a concurrent DUI charge might impact a strategy. We craft a holistic defense. If needed, we bring in experts – maybe a forensic chemist to challenge drug lab results, or a psychologist to speak to a client’s state of mind, etc.
• Local insight: As locals, we know the St. Mary’s County courts, the prosecutors, and the law enforcement patterns. We know which judges favor rehabilitation and which have a hard line on certain offenses. This local knowledge is power when tailoring a defense strategy. We also stay updated on trends – like the fact that lately prosecutors are really hammering fentanyl cases – so we adjust our approach (perhaps advising a client in a fentanyl case to consider a plea on a lesser charge early, to avoid the public ire surrounding that issue).

Ultimately, our philosophy is that no case is hopeless. Even if you’re caught red-handed, there are always ways a defense attorney can improve your situation – whether it’s through legal maneuvers, negotiation, or mitigating on your behalf. I often tell clients: you might feel like the world is against you right now, but remember you have rights and options. Our job is to make sure the legal system doesn’t steamroll you.

Wrapping up: A Cautionary Tale and Hope for the Future

One of the reasons I write these blog posts is to educate and hopefully prevent some folks from needing my services in the first place. If there’s one theme that emerges from all this, it’s that drug involvement raises the stakes of any criminal allegation. What might be a simple mistake or minor offense can turn into something life-changing when drugs are in the mix.

So, a bit of advice from someone who’s seen it all: be mindful of the company you keep and the situations you put yourself in. If you’re struggling with substance use, seek help – better to self-refer to treatment than to wait until you’re facing a judge. If you do find yourself on the wrong side of those flashing blue lights in St. Mary’s County, remember that an arrest is not a conviction. You have the right to remain silent (use it!) and the right to an attorney. Exercise those rights immediately. The sooner a defense attorney can start working on your case, the better your chances of a favorable outcome.

I opened with a story, so I’ll close with one too – a positive one. A young man I’ll call “J” was charged with distribution of narcotics and resisting arrest (he ran from cops when caught with a significant amount of pills). He was looking at years behind bars. We dug into his case and realized the search of his backpack might have been illegal. We filed motions, ready to fight. Meanwhile, J entered a rehab program on his own. On the trial date, rather than put the police through a messy suppression hearing, the prosecutor offered a deal: plead guilty to simple possession, and they’d drop the distribution and resisting charges. J would get probation. We took the deal, of course. In court, we presented proof of J’s completed rehab and current employment. The judge was impressed – so much so that he struck the guilty finding after a successful probation period, meaning J won’t have a conviction record. Today, J is doing well and has stayed out of trouble.

That kind of turnaround is possible with the right approach. It’s what motivates me every day in this practice. No one is perfect; people make mistakes, fall into bad cycles, or find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our job is to ensure one mistake doesn’t define your whole life. If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in St. Mary’s County – drug-related or otherwise – know that help is available.

We’re here to guide you through the storm and fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future.

(This post is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. If you need specific guidance, please contact our qualified attorney.)