Caught Up in the System? How to Fight Back Against Excessive Charges in Anne Arundel County
As a criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC, I’ve seen firsthand how serious even a single charge can be in Anne Arundel County.
For each type of offense – from white collar fraud to violent crime – the stakes are high: many charges carry steep fines, mandatory prison terms, and lifelong collateral consequences.
Recent data show the frequency of these cases locally.
For example, Anne Arundel County police reported 16 murders and 1,404 aggravated assaults in 2022.
The local courts handled hundreds of robberies (322 in 2022) and thousands of property crimes.
In our office’s experience, a strong local defense strategy can make all the difference in reducing or avoiding excessive charges.
White Collar Crimes
White-collar crimes – such as fraud, embezzlement, bribery, or misuse of public funds – can be technically complex and often attract harsh penalties. In Anne Arundel County, these cases might involve government officials, business executives, or anyone accused of financial misconduct.
One notable example is the 2024 indictment of Anne Arundel’s Register of Wills for misappropriation of estate taxes.
White-collar cases often involve detailed financial records and federal collaboration, and convictions can mean felony charges, heavy fines, and restitution to victims.
A savvy defense attorney understands how to dissect accounting evidence, negotiate with prosecutors, and potentially get charges reduced.
For instance, proving an honest mistake or lack of criminal intent can often turn a felony charge into a lesser misdemeanor or even have charges dismissed.
My firm’s attorneys know Maryland’s financial crime statutes inside and out and work to hold prosecutors to their burden of proof, often uncovering errors or alternative explanations in the evidence.
DUI and Traffic Violations
Driving under the influence (DUI) and serious traffic violations are taken very seriously in Anne Arundel County. In 2021, law enforcement made 1,612 impaired driving arrests in our county.
Penalties for DUI range from license suspension and fines for a first offense up to lengthy jail terms for repeat or injury crashes.
For example, one Glen Burnie man with prior DUIs was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison after causing a fatal crash.
Another habitual drunk driver received the maximum 10-year sentence under Maryland’s tough new DUI laws.
These cases show how enhanced penalties apply to repeat offenders or crashes with injuries.
A skilled defense lawyer in Anne Arundel can challenge the traffic stop or breathalyzer results, negotiate plea deals, or argue for alternative sentencing (like alcohol treatment) to limit jail time. Our firm routinely works with chemical test experts and uses every legal tool – such as motion practice or mitigation hearings – to lower charges (for example, from DUI to negligent driving) or reduce penalties and license suspensions whenever possible.
Violent Crime
“Violent crimes” in Anne Arundel include offenses like aggravated assault, robbery, and rape.
According to state crime reports, Anne Arundel saw 3,811 total violent crimes in 2022 (which includes 16 murders, 185 rapes, 322 robberies, and 1,404 aggravated assaults). A recent FBI alert notes a surge of “jugging” armed robberies targeting bank and ATM customers, with most occurring in Anne Arundel County.
Crimes involving force carry the harshest penalties: for example, aggravated assault and first-degree robbery are second-degree felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A good criminal defense can significantly impact these cases. By investigating every element of the alleged offense – questioning eyewitness reliability, police procedures, or self-defense issues – a lawyer can often get charges lowered (say, from felony assault to misdemeanor) or probation instead of prison.
At The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, we know the local prosecutorial trends and courts, enabling us to craft strategies like plea bargains to reduced charges (for example, replacing a violent felony with a less serious charge) or emphasizing rehabilitation over incarceration.
Weapons Crimes
Anne Arundel County has seen growing enforcement of illegal gun possession, especially involving “ghost guns” (homemade unserialized firearms).
For example, in March 2025 police arrested two men after discovering a loaded Polymer-80 ghost gun in a traffic stop. The passenger – an 18-year-old prohibited person – faced multiple charges, including possession by a minor and ammunition violations.
Weapons offenses (carrying a handgun without a license, possessing a ghost gun, etc.) carry severe penalties under Maryland’s strict gun laws.
A single firearms count can add significant prison time to any offense.
A determined defense attorney will challenge the legality of the stop or search, examine chain-of-custody for the weapon, and exploit technicalities (like who legally possessed the gun) to weaken the prosecution’s case.
In many scenarios we have avoided excessive penalties by arguing our client’s actual intent or unintentional possession – or by negotiating a deal to separate the weapons charges from more serious accusations, thereby dramatically reducing jail risk.
Juvenile Offenses
The juvenile justice system in Maryland is separate and generally more rehabilitative. Region-wide data (Anne Arundel is in Region 5 with Carroll and Howard counties) show juvenile intakes are mostly misdemeanors (73% in 2023), with felony cases rising modestly. However, serious crimes by youth (like carjacking or assault) can lead to adult charges.
For example, a 17-year-old in Glen Burnie rammed a stolen car into a police cruiser and was arrested for violent felonies and motor theft.
If juveniles are charged as adults, penalties skyrocket; but otherwise, sanctions focus on counseling, detention, or probation.
Defense lawyers play a key role in navigating juvenile court – ensuring the child’s rights are protected, evidentiary rules followed, and diversion programs explored.
Our firm has extensive experience obtaining reduced dispositions for youth (such as adjustment or deferred placement) or sealing juvenile records. We work closely with juvenile services and judges to minimize disruption to young clients’ lives, always keeping in mind the goal of steering them away from a future criminal path while still holding them accountable in the least punitive way possible.
Theft and Robbery
Property crimes are very common in Anne Arundel. In 2022, the county saw 7,778 larcenies (theft) and 322 robberies.
Police have also targeted organized retail thefts – recently breaking up a ring that stole over $107,000 in fragrances from local Ulta stores.
Theft crimes range from shoplifting (misdemeanors) to grand larceny (felonies) based on dollar amounts and circumstances, while robbery (theft by force or threat) is always a felony.
As defense counsel, we scrutinize police reports for mistaken identity or insufficient evidence (e.g. flawed surveillance), and we negotiate with prosecutors to reduce charges where possible.
For example, a coordinated defense may get felony auto theft charges dropped to misdemeanor possession, or a larceny charge lowered if the value is borderline.
We also emphasize restitution and community service in negotiations to keep clients out of jail.
By tailoring each defense to Anne Arundel’s courts – knowing which judges favor diversion or which programs gain leniency – The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC can significantly mitigate the harsh consequences of theft and robbery charges.
Murder and Homicide
Homicide charges carry the ultimate penalties. Anne Arundel recorded 16 homicides in 2022.
These are investigated exhaustively by police and tried vigorously by the State’s Attorney’s Office. For instance, the August 2022 shooting of Matthew Ponder in Glen Burnie resulted in a first-degree murder charge against a suspect in late 2023.
A murder conviction in Maryland can mean life in prison without parole. A defense attorney’s job is extraordinarily difficult but vital: we examine every forensic detail, challenge any illegal search or evidence issue, and seek out any alternate scenarios (self-defense, mistaken shooter, etc.).
While homicide is the worst-case scenario, there are times when our preparation pays off in plea deals to reduced charges (like manslaughter) or even acquittals, especially when the prosecution’s case has gaps.
We also fight to ensure our client’s constitutional rights (such as the right to counsel and a fair trial) are scrupulously protected.
In sum, even with homicide cases, an aggressive, experienced defense can mean the difference between decades behind bars and a more livable outcome.
Sex Crimes
Sexual offenses – rape, sexual assault, child pornography, etc. – are prosecuted with great vigor in Anne Arundel County. In 2022 there were 185 reported rapes.
Penalties range from years to life in prison, especially for rape or sexual abuse of minors. A recent case illustrates this: a Glen Burnie man was convicted of multiple counts of second-degree rape and child sexual abuse involving his 8-year-old nieceaacounty.org. He now faces a likely multi-decade sentence.
Defense of sex crimes often hinges on consent issues or evidentiary challenges, and requires sensitivity to both the client’s rights and the victim’s testimony.
We approach these cases by thoroughly reviewing forensic exams, communications, and timelines. Importantly, our firm strives to keep the focus on legal standards – demanding proof beyond a reasonable doubt – and to ensure the accused has full due process, from jury selection to sentencing.
Even in difficult sex offense cases, a skillful attorney can sometimes negotiate charge reductions (for example, avoiding first-degree rape by plea bargain) or alternative measures that lessen the lifetime registration requirements or sentence length.
How Skilled Defense Can Help
In every category above, hiring a knowledgeable Anne Arundel County criminal defense attorney is crucial.
We at The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC pride ourselves on an aggressive, strategic defense tailored to the local legal system.
From day one, we work to minimize the fallout: we challenge unlawful searches, question witnesses, and negotiate forcefully with prosecutors.
Our deep familiarity with Anne Arundel’s judges, prosecutors, and court procedures means we know which arguments carry weight locally.
We always aim for the best possible outcome – whether that’s having charges dropped, securing an acquittal, or crafting a plea that keeps our clients out of jail. Ultimately, a skilled attorney can mean far lower fines, shorter jail sentences, or even complete dismissal of charges.
Facing criminal charges can be overwhelming, but with the right defense team in your corner, it’s possible to protect your rights and your future under Maryland law.
Citations
Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor. (2024, January 26). Anne Arundel County Register of Wills charged with misconduct in office, misappropriation by a fiduciary, and theft.
Anne Arundel County Office of the State’s Attorney. (2023, April 18). Man sentenced to 15 years in fatal drunk driving crash outside Marley Station Mall [Press release].
Retrieved from https://www.aacounty.org/sao/press-releases/man-sentenced-15-years-fatal-drunk-driving-crash-outside-marley-station-mall
Anne Arundel County Office of the State’s Attorney. (2023, May). Repeat drunk driving offender receives maximum sentence in serious personal injury crash [Press release].
Retrieved from https://www.aacounty.org/sao/press-releases/repeat-drunk-driving-offender-receives-maximum-sentence-serious-personal-injury
Maryland Department of Transportation, Highway Safety Office. (2022). FFY2024 Problem Identification: Anne Arundel County [PDF].
Retrieved from https://zerodeathsmd.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FY2024_Anne-Arundel-County_PID_Final.pdf
Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. (2023). Annual report and scorecard of quantifiable safety indicators.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office. (2024, July 11). Criminals are targeting bank and ATM customers in Maryland [Press release].
Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/baltimore/news/criminals-are-targeting-bank-and-atm-customers-in-maryland
The BayNet. (2025, March 19). Two arrested in Anne Arundel traffic stop; ghost gun, outstanding warrants found.
Retrieved from https://thebaynet.com/two-arrested-in-anne-arundel-traffic-stop-ghost-gun-outstanding-warrants-found/
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. (2023). Data Resource Guide: Region 5 – Anne Arundel, Carroll, and Howard Counties (FY 2023).
Retrieved from https://djs.maryland.gov/Documents/DRG/Region-5.pdf
Anne Arundel County Police Department. (2025, March 28). Regional organized retail theft – arrests [Press release].
Retrieved from https://www.aacounty.org/police-department/about-us/news/police-press-release-march-28-2025
Anne Arundel County Office of the State’s Attorney. (2024, January). Jury finds man guilty of sexually abusing a minor in their Glen Burnie home [Press release].
Retrieved from https://www.aacounty.org/sao/press-releases/jury-finds-man-guilty-sexually-abusing-minor-their-glen-burnie-home
