Hate crimes in in Maryland and Washington D.C. are typically violent offenses that are added as an additional charge to other serious charges such as arson or assault. However, hate crimes do not always have to be violent. A hate crime can be a verbal harassment, assault or vandalism of another person for one of the reasons listed below. The government does not tolerate hate crimes, which is why the state of Maryland has enacted severe penalties for anyone who is convicted of such an offense. If you are facing violent crime charges and or hate crime charges you need the help of a skilled Rockville, Maryland criminal defense lawyer handling hate crimes.
To arrange a consult to discuss your case please call or email our Maryland hate crime defense attorneys. They serve the Montgomery County, Frederick County, Howard County, Anne Arundel COunty, Prince George’s County and Washington D.C. areas.
Hate Crimes Defined
You could face hate crime charges if you victimized someone based on:
- Race or ethnicity
- Gender
- Age
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Political affiliation
If you have been charged with a hate crime, learn about your options and how we can ideally have your charges dropped or dismissed. At the very least our lawyers will minimize the negative consequences of your pending charges. Our Laurel, MD criminal defense lawyers can provide you with exceptional legal counsel that is suited to your unique situation. Hate crimes can be an uphill battle and are extremely complex to defend, but our firm has the knowledge you need to take on this challenge. With many years of legal experience, our University of Maryland criminal defense lawyers know how to build a successful defense.
How Your Charges Could be Reclassified
Hate crimes can result in serious penalties, and you may even be sentenced to life imprisonment if a person dies because of your actions. In order for you to be convicted of a hate crime, however, the prosecution must be able to prove that you were motivated by hate. Take your future into your own hands and call our firm for the aggressive defense you deserve. Our Pennsylvania hate crime defense attorneys will be vigilant in pursuing every strategy that could be effective in your case.
Per Pennsylvania laws, hate crimes can be reclassified to more serious charges. For example they can take a misdemeanor assault and deem it a felony charge. If your charge is already a felony it can be bumped up to a more serious felony class. Do not face this alone. Contact our Frederick, MD hate crime lawyers today to begin building your defense.
Possible Defenses to Your Hate Crime Charge
If you’re facing hate crime charges in Maryland, it is important to understand that there are a number of defenses that can be utilized on your behalf. Even if there is a substantial amount of evidence against you, you should not plead guilty or accept a plea bargain until you have had the chance to speak with a legal professional. Hate crimes are unique in that the prosecution must be able to prove that your actions were motivated by hate or prejudice.
In order to combat your hate crime charges, our Silver Spring defense lawyers may show that:
- There is insufficient evidence against you
- You are the victim of mistaken identity
- Your actions were not motivated by hate
With the help of an experienced Wheaton, Maryland criminal attorneys, you can fight to ensure that your freedom and reputation are restored. Our team has tried hundreds of jury trials, defended thousands of clients in criminal court and secured a number of victories. If you are interested in speaking with a legal professional at our firm, we encourage you to call now. Our Bethesda Maryland defense attorneys are available to our clients anytime day or night. In addition, they offer a case review to get you started.
With an office in Rockville, Maryland our hate crime defense lawyers serve the Bethesda, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Frederick, Bowie, Laurel, College Park, Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Greenbelt, Suitland, Germantown, Olney, Takoma Park, and Gaithersburg, MD areas.
