Baltimore, Maryland Reckless Endangerment Lawyers

Attorneys for Criminal Charges Involving Reckless Actions in Baltimore

Reckless endangerment is a misdemeanor under Maryland law, and it carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of $5,000. This crime is another example of what is known in Maryland as a "penitentiary misdemeanor," which means that even though the crime is a misdemeanor, it carries a maximum penalty that subjects a defendant to the possibility of being sent to the state prison system and not just a county detention center.

At Silverman Thompson, our criminal defense attorneys can provide a strong defense against charges of reckless endangerment and other related offenses. We work to protect the rights of our clients and help them avoid misdemeanor convictions that could result in prison sentences or other serious penalties.

What Is Reckless Endangerment?

Reckless endangerment is defined by a person engaging in conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.

The courts have ruled that it is not necessary that the state prove that the risk of serious physical injury is substantially certain to occur. Instead, charges may apply if a person was aware that their conduct might cause an injury. While a person may not have intended to cause an injury, they may be found guilty based on claims that they were unconcerned about the possibility that their conduct would seriously injure someone else.

The statute does not require the actual causing of a physical injury. The legislature put this law in place with the specific intent of deterring people from committing potentially harmful conduct before an injury or death occurs. Because of this distinction, a person may be found guilty of reckless endangerment even in situations where no death or injury of any kind has occurred as a result of their allegedly reckless conduct.

Examples of situations in which people have been convicted of reckless endangerment include:

• Leaving loaded firearms unsecured in a home where minor children reside
• Failure to provide medical attention to a person to whom a duty was owed
• Carrying a fully loaded handgun that was not equipped with a safety mechanism inside a backpack in a crowded office
• Throwing heavy objects off the roof of a tall building
• Throwing rocks or other projectiles at moving automobiles

Where actual serious bodily harm or death has allegedly occurred as a result of a person's reckless conduct, the consequences can be far more severe for the defendant. Reckless conduct causing death can lead to charges of either involuntary manslaughter or, in some circumstances, second-degree murder under a "depraved heart" theory.

Contact Our Baltimore, MD Reckless Endangerment Attorneys

Even in circumstances where no actual harm has occurred, reckless endangerment is a serious offense. Anyone charged with this offense will need to make sure they have representation from a skilled criminal defense attorney. At Silverman Thompson, we know the best defense strategies to use in these cases, and we can help address claims of recklessness that put others at risk. Contact our Baltimore reckless endangerment defense lawyers by calling 410-385-2225 for a free consultation.