Police officers, much like teachers and parents, are not your friends. Their job isn’t to make you feel good; it’s to protect the public. Sometimes those two things – making you feel better and keeping you safe – work in tandem, and sometimes they don’t. Them’s the breaks. The same is true of the D.A. [...]
Jarrod Ramos, who was accused of killing five workers at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md has confessed that he committed the offenses. His defense is that he was mentally ill at the time of the trial – such that he should be held – not criminally responsible. According to the Washington Post, Ramos [...]
So, we are officially in the midst of a pandemic. What that means is that a disease has reached a greater geographical reach. So, basically, it just means that it’s all over the world, as opposed to in one state or one country. And that’s kinda terrifying, I know. There’s a lot of misinformation out [...]
A conviction for a DUI charge in Maryland carries serious consequences. You will likely be ordered to spend time in jail. There will be large fines and court costs. Your license will likely be suspended. Your insurance rates will go through the roof – if you’re lucky to get insurance. Even when you get your [...]
Ok. If you’re going to engage in drug-fueled police chase where you could be charged with resisting law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, reckless driving, auto theft, and common nuisance – the smartest thing isn’t also to have a tattoo on your forehead that says “Crime Pays.” Not only does the tattoo make you look like [...]
A PB&J is delicious. A PBJ – Probation Before Judgment – is an actual remedy that is issued in many nonserious criminal charges to help a defendant avoid prison time. You can think of PBJ as a “sandwich” remedy, though, which combines an outer layer of being placed on probation with the softer inner layer [...]
You’ve seen it in the movies and on TV. The drama about who committed a crime ends when an eyewitnesses says, “I saw So-and-So Kill that man with a spoon*. He did it or she’s the one!” (*Or whatever. TV is terrible. Don’t let it rot your brain.) It always sounds or seems like doom [...]
As a criminal defense lawyer, I hear no shortage of complaints from people about their criminal defense lawyers. (That’ll teach you not to come directly to me, huh?) I hear the same complaints and, frankly, terrible “jokes” from people I know and love, too. Comes with the territory. But if you think your lawyer is [...]
The terms DWI and DUI are similar but not identical. DWI stands for Driving While Impaired. DUI stands for Driving while Under the Influence. There are different requirements for proving each type of offense. The penalties are also different. In general, the penalties for a DWI are less severe than the penalties for a DUI [...]
The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution protects people from having to give evidence against themselves. In general, this means that if the police arrest you or if a prosecutor questions you, you do not have to testify against yourself. The burden is on the state or the federal government to prove its case independent [...]
Drew has helped me out several times over the years. He has a high standard of professionalism, and is also highly personable. He has given me some of the best guidance and also referrals. I also refer Mr. Cochran to anyone ever in need.
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