Category Archives: Criminal Law
How Does Section 1983 Help Protect Civil Rights?
Today we will discuss an important concept in federal civil rights litigation – a statute commonly referred to as “Section 1983.” Officially codified as 42 U.S.C. 1983, this statute provides a mechanism through which victims can bring private lawsuits for certain civil rights violations, including, among other things, police misconduct cases (including claims of… Read More »
Maryland Justice Reinvestment Act Allows Sentence Reduction for Drug Crimes
The Maryland Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) is opening the door for incarcerated criminals to ask for sentence reductions concerning drug crimes, according to an article by The Baltimore Sun. The JRA passed through both houses of the Maryland state legislature in April 2016. About one month later, Governor Larry Hogan signed the bill into… Read More »
Maryland Man Causes Power Outage While Driving Under the Influence
A Maryland man faces charges for driving under the influence (DUI), driving on a revoked license and driving without a license, after nearly colliding with police and then crashing into a utility pole, according to an article by WBOC. The 45-year-old man in question blasted through a stop sign and almost collided with a… Read More »
Rape & Murder Charges Filed Against Baltimore Teenager
An 18-year-old from Baltimore faces criminal charges for the rape and murder of a homeless woman, according to an article by The Baltimore Sun. The 18-year-old teenager confessed during police questioning. Police found the victim – a homeless mother of four – in an access road between Baltimore and Lombard streets. The access road… Read More »
DUI & DWI Charges Assessed for Maryland State Police Trooper
A Maryland State Police trooper faces DUI and DWI charges after crashing into a passenger vehicle, according to an article by CBS Baltimore. The trooper was driving a state police vehicle late on a Sunday in Cecil County when he slammed into the rear of a passenger vehicle. The driver and child passenger escaped… Read More »
Investigation Shuts Down Firearm Burglary Ring
Six Indicted for Alleged Conspiracy to Commit Thefts of Firearms, Rifles and Shotguns for Use in Drug Trafficking and Violent Crimes BALTIMORE, MD (April 17, 2017) Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced the indictment of six individuals for allegedly conspiring to commit burglaries in order to steal firearms, rifles and shotguns. The… Read More »
Investigation Shuts Down Firearm Burglary Ring Six Indicted for Alleged Conspiracy to Commit Thefts of Firearms, Rifles and Shotguns for Use in Drug Trafficking and Violent Crimes
BALTIMORE, MD (April 17, 2017) Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced the indictment of six individuals for allegedly conspiring to commit burglaries in order to steal firearms, rifles and shotguns. The indictments and arrests come at the end of a yearlong investigation that was the product of >collaboration between the Bureau of… Read More »
Statewide Accounting of Untested Sexual Assault Evidence Kits
To better protect victims of sexual assault, the Office of Attorney General recommends presumptive testing of all sexual assault kits, victim notification of test results, and retention of kits until the statute of limitations has run. In response to a nationwide effort to address a backlog of untested kits, the Maryland General Assembly last… Read More »
One Less Violent Offender on the Streets
For Immediate Release 4/13/2016 Steven “Sandman” Melton was found guilty of several counts related to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, wear-carry transport of a handgun, and prohibited possession of ammunition. Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Daniels successfully prosecuted this case. On September 20, 2014, a Baltimore Police officer on patrol in the… Read More »
After Pleading Guilty in Brutal Stabbing Death of Patterson Park Woman, 16 Year Old is Facing 45 Years of Incarceration
Alonzo Gorham-Ramos will be sentenced on January 26, 2016, for the heinous murder of Kimberly Leto. Gorham-Ramos plead guilty to brutally stabbing Leto 11 times. Despite the state’s plea recommendation of life suspend all but 60 years incarceration, the defendant availed himself of the court’s offer to cap the defendant’s sentence at life suspend… Read More »
