Baltimore, Maryland Violent Crimes Lawyers

Proven Trial Lawyers Defending Serious Felony Charges

Violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, assault, and domestic violence are, without question, the most focused upon and aggressively prosecuted cases in the system today. Prosecutors and police view the protection of the public against violent crime as the most paramount responsibility to the community.

This is why these cases are investigated by the most experienced detectives and prosecuted by the best and the brightest assistant state's attorneys in Maryland. When a citizen has been seriously injured or killed, police and prosecutors are generally not inclined to cut a deal, and they will often seek the maximum penalty of life without parole. (Note: There is no death penalty in Maryland.)

Because of these serious penalties, people accused of violent crimes will need to have a strong attorney in their corner. The criminal defense lawyers at Silverman Thompson have helped numerous clients address violent crime charges. We understand the best defense strategies in these situations, and we work to protect our clients' rights at all times.

Types of Violent Crimes

Our team works with people who have been charged with violent crimes to determine the best options for defense. We can assist with cases involving:

• Assault and Battery: While most people may associate these offenses with situations where someone intentionally injures someone else, there are other reasons that a person could be charged with assault. Verbal threats to injure someone, acting in a way that caused someone to fear that they would be injured, or making contact with someone in an offensive manner can all lead to assault charges. The penalties for these offenses will become more serious in cases involving severe injuries, strangulation, the use of weapons, or other aggravating factors.
• Domestic Violence: When a person is accused of assault against a family member, they may face penalties for assault charges, and they may also be subject to a protective order that could place restrictions on their life and their relationships with their children or other family members. Domestic violence cases may involve allegations of assault against a spouse, romantic partner, ex-spouse or partner, parent, child, stepparent, stepchild, another relative, or someone who lives in a person's home.
• Murder: While the most serious murder charges will involve accusations of intentionally killing someone with premeditation, other charges may also apply in cases where someone is accused of causing someone else's death. If a person was killed unintentionally, charges of manslaughter may apply. Regardless of the situation, these charges carry serious penalties that may include years or decades in prison.
• Armed Robbery: A person may be charged with robbery based on accusations that they directly took money or property from someone without that person's permission while using force or threatening to injure the person or someone else. The charges in these cases are likely to be more severe if a person was allegedly armed with a gun or another deadly weapon.

Effective Legal Representation in Violent Crime Cases

Since 1999, Partner Creston Smith has tried over 50 murder and attempted murder trials to verdict, winning full acquittals in over half of those cases. He has helped clients avoid murder convictions in many other cases. Another frequent success of his includes his clients being found guilty of manslaughter or lesser offenses when charged with first-degree murder.

From 2022 to 2023, Mr. Smith defended clients in 12 murder/attempted murder cases with only two convictions. In addition to his extensive experience representing clients in violent crime cases, Creston Smith has tried and won countless handgun and drug cases throughout his career. Most recently, Mr. Smith was named to The Maryland Daily Record's Criminal Law Power List as a top criminal defense attorney in the state.

Contact Our Baltimore, MD Violent Crimes Attorneys

It goes without saying that someone who has been arrested for a violent crime needs to ensure that they will be defended by an aggressive attorney with experience in criminal defense. The team at Silverman Thompson has collectively handled well over 1,000 violent felonies over the past two decades. Our lawyers have a combined experience of over 75 years handling these matters. To get the legal help you need in these cases, contact our Baltimore violent crimes defense lawyers at 410-385-2225 and arrange a free consultation.