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Maryland Man Arrested in Sex Crime Allegation Involving Minor

July 25, 2017 by

A Crofton, Maryland man has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including sex offenses, after he used an instant messaging app to try to have sex with a 14-year-old in North Carolina. The man was arrested on Sunday, April 9, at his home in Maryland. Authorities say he had made actual contact with the minor, had requested photographs and videos, and had made threats of violence toward the minor and the minor’s family in order to coerce compliance.

Anne Arundel police also told reporters that the perpetrator had a history of sexual offenses, including a 2005 conviction for possession of child pornography, as well as a 2014 conviction for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor in the state of Washington. He is registered as a sex offender for that crime. The suspect is currently being held without bail by Anne Arundel authorities pending efforts to extradite him to North Carolina to face charges of sexual exploitation and indecent liberties with a minor.

Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Maryland Super Lawyer Jonathan Scott Smith has aggressively defended individuals in Maryland for more than 30 years. Long known and respected by his peers for effective representation, he has earned an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Attorney Smith has received the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO stars (the highest rating possible), based on an average client review of 5.0. He has a perfect 10.0 (Superb) rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO. The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell both listed him as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer.

Top-Rated Criminal Defense Lawyer in Howard County

If you are under investigation for or have been charged with any kind of crime, we can help. Contact us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Free Cameras Being Installed to Fight Crime

July 3, 2017 by

A local grass roots organization, Neighborhood Watch Team Baltimore (NWT) has been implementing a free video surveillance camera program in the community for more than a year, with the specific objective of reducing crime in the city. NWT representatives say the original idea was to install fake cameras, which members believed would be a disincentive to crime. NWT leaders countered with a proposal that would use real cameras. Since the inception of the program, more than 100 cameras have been installed in neighborhoods throughout Baltimore.

NWT has worked to strategically install the cameras so that the costs can be shared by a number of residents, making the program affordable. The cameras are wireless, don’t need high-speed internet and even have a backup battery. NWT officials say that the cameras view not only your yard, but the street an alleyways by a house as well. They contend that the cameras have helped prevent and solve crimes throughout the area.

Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Maryland

Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has aggressively protected the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years. He carries a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO, and has received the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, with an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He is also widely respected by his colleagues in the legal profession, earning an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Ellicott City Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you or someone you love faces criminal charges, contact our office by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Slain Officer’s Son Killed

June 21, 2017 by

The 22-year-old son of a former Baltimore City police detective died on Friday, April 14, just as his father had ten years earlier, from gunshot wounds. Trayvon Chesley was apparently returning from picking up some food when he was shot and killed in the alley behind his home in the 3900 block of Wabash Avenue. His father, officer Troy Chesley, was killed less than two miles away on January 9, 2007.

Investigators say Trayvon Chesley was shot in the head and the body and died at the scene of the crime. He was the second oldest in his family. His father had been assigned to the Baltimore Police Department’s public housing section, and was involved in undercover drug operations. Officers who knew Troy Chesley say they tried to keep tabs on Trayvon as he grew, but knew that he’d had some run-ins with the law. The younger Chesley was charged with attempted murder in 2013, but was acquitted. He subsequently received an eight year prison sentence on weapons charges.

Top-Rated Baltimore, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has aggressively protected the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years. He carries a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO, and has received the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, with an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He is also widely respected by his colleagues in the legal profession, earning an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Ellicott City, MD Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you or someone you love faces criminal charges, contact our office by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Violent Easter Weekend in Baltimore

June 5, 2017 by

According to Baltimore police, a pregnant woman and her unborn child were among the homicide victims in the city over the holy weekend. Officers received reports of a domestic dispute in the 4800 block of Claybury Avenue around 3:30 Easter afternoon, and, upon arrival at the scene, found evidence of a shooting, but neither victim nor suspect. Two hours later, the woman and her unborn child were discovered outside a local hospital. Both died from the wounds suffered.

Three other Baltimore residents died violently over the Easter weekend, including:

  • A 25-year-old Brooklyn neighborhood man, who was shot multiple times around noon on Easter Sunday
  • A 57-year-old man slain in a robbery in the Cherry Hill area just before 6 pm on Saturday
  • A 28-year-old man killed around 12:30 am Sunday morning by an unknown gunman in the Oliver neighborhood

Highly Respected Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has fought for the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than three decades. He is a recipient of the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible), and has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO. Attorney Smith has also built an outstanding reputation with his colleagues in the legal profession, earning an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Smith was also listed as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Baltimore, MD

If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, we can help. Contact Us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Two People Charged with Hate Crime for Burning Trump Sign

May 23, 2017 by

Police in Princess Anne County have charged two Baltimore women with a number of offense, from arson to hate crimes, for burning a Trump for President campaign sign in a shopping center on Carole Lane. Authorities say the fire spread to nearby vegetation, but was put out by local fire officials. The damage was estimated at approximately $800.

Under Maryland law, the destruction of a person’s property can constitute a hate crime. However, the statute specifically says that, when the property belongs to an individual, the destruction must be based on one of the following characteristics of the victim: race, color, religious belief, sexual orientation, gender, disability, national origin or status as homeless. An attorney for the defendants says the women accept responsibility for the arson/destruction of property, but believe that the hate crime allegation is without merit, as the victim does not fall into one of the stated categories, and the women had a protected First Amendment right to free speech to state their political opinions.

Columbia, Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer

Maryland Super Lawyer Jonathan Scott Smith has fought for the rights of criminal defendants for more than 30 years. Because of his record and reputation, he has been a multiple recipient of the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO, and is also respected by his colleagues in the legal profession, who have given him an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Highly Regarded Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City, MD

We tenaciously fight for people who have been charged with any type of crime. Contact Us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Two People Found Shot in Same Baltimore Neighborhood

May 8, 2017 by

Baltimore police say two people were found shot in the Carrollton Ridge section of Baltimore on Monday, April 17. The first shooting occurred in the 1800 block of Wilkens, where the victim, a male, was hit multiple times. The man was taken to the hospital and remained there overnight. No suspect was seen or taken into custody.

Just two and a half hours later, law enforcement officers were in the 200 block of S. Payson answering a call when they reportedly heard gunfire and observed a man firing a gun at another person just up the street. The shooter apparently fled when the officers responded on foot. Police say the victim was shot in the leg and was listed in good condition at a local hospital. The alleged perpetrator could not be found.

Effective Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City, MD

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith, a Maryland Super Lawyer, has fought for the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years. Because of his record and reputation for effective representation, he has been awarded the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO, and has also built an outstanding reputation with his colleagues in the legal profession, earning an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.

Top-Rated Baltimore County, Maryland, Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with any type of crime, we can help. Contact Us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Hanover Man Put on FBI’s Most Wanted List

April 28, 2017 by

The FBI has added Bhadreshkumar Patel, a 26-year-old Hanover resident, to its Top 10 Most Wanted List, and is offering as much as $100,000 for information that leads to his arrest. Patel was videotaped working with his wife at a Hanover Dunkin Donuts on April 12, 2015. The videotape shows him walking with her off screen behind some racks in the store, but returning without her. Her body was subsequently discovered with multiple stab wounds.

According to family members, Patel’s wife had told her husband that she wanted to return to her homeland in India and had asked him to buy her a plane ticket. Patel was last seen in New Jersey, the day after the murder, taking a hotel shuttle to Newark Penn Station. Authorities say Patel was in the United States on a visa, but that it had expired. They say he did not have the ability to legally leave the country, so they suspect that he is receiving assistance from friends or family in the New York City area.

AV-Rated Ellicott City, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Maryland Super Lawyer Jonathan Scott Smith has aggressively protected the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than three decades. Because of his record and reputation for effective advocacy, he has been awarded the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, with an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and by Martindale-Hubbell.

Columbia, MD Criminal Defense Lawyer

When you face criminal charges, you want someone who will aggressively protect your constitutional rights. contact us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Baltimore Teens Indicted for Gun Crimes, Carjacking

April 19, 2017 by

Six Baltimore teens who allegedly broke into a Park Heights storage unit in 2015 and stole more than 60 weapons have been indicted on theft charges, as well as carjacking offenses. State prosecutors say that federal agents conducted an exhaustive investigation over the last year, gathering evidence against the six, who range in age from 17 to 19. All have been charged as adults.

The teenagers all face multiple counts, with some charged with nearly 200 crimes, according to court documents. Authorities say the six repeatedly broke into the storage locker in the 5300 block of Park Heights Avenue and then drove around various neighborhoods attempting to sell the firearms they has stolen. Police reports indicate that the weapons included handguns, shotguns and high-powered rifles. They also contend that some of the weapons sold were used to commit other crimes, including carjackings.

Experienced Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

For more than three decades, attorney Jonathan Scott Smith has fought for the rights of people facing criminal prosecution in Maryland. He takes a comprehensive approach to criminal defense, carefully gathering and evaluating the facts and circumstances of your case. He’ll confirm that police followed proper procedures, and make certain that your constitutional rights were not violated.

Attorney Smith has a strong reputation with clients and colleagues, earning recognition as a Maryland Super Lawyer, as well as an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System. Named a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell, he has also the recipient of the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, based on an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He also holds a 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO.

Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer in Ellicott City, Maryland

To learn how we can help protect your constitutional rights in a criminal matter, contact us by e-mail or call our office at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We defend people throughout Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Charges Dropped in Gun Possession Prosecution Involving Indicted Officer

March 30, 2017 by

Charges Dropped in Gun Possession Prosecution Involving Indicted Officer

The first repercussions of the indictment of seven Baltimore police officers on federal racketeering charges have been felt. Authorities say a number of pending criminal prosecutions were abandoned, as the credibility of the officers was perceived to be suspect. In addition, a man serving a three month sentence for gun possession charges was released from jail and all charges were dismissed.

Quinton McNeil, 22, was released from jail midway through a 90 day sentence, after prosecutors determined that the charges against him were based solely on the testimony of two of the indicted officers.

AV-Rated Ellicott City Criminal Defense Attorney

Maryland Super Lawyer Jonathan Scott Smith has aggressively represented criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years. He’ll be your advocate at all stages of a criminal prosecution, from arrest to arraignment to trial. He’ll fully investigate your case, looking at how police and prosecutors gathered evidence against you. He’ll review all police reports and question witnesses, so that he can prepare and present the most effective defense at trial. He has the experience to negotiate a plea bargain, if that’s in your best interests. But he’s always ready, willing and able to protect your rights before a judge and jury. He’ll make sure that there was probable cause for any search or seizure and that you were properly advised of your Constitutional rights if taken into custody.

Because of his strong record and reputation for effective advocacy, he has been awarded the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, with an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He also has a perfect 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO. Smith was also recognized as a 2012 Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and by Martindale-Hubbell.

Proven Montgomery County, Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer

When you face criminal charges, you want someone who will aggressively protect your constitutional rights. Contact us by e-mail or call us at 410-740-0101 to schedule an appointment. We represent criminal defendants in Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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Baltimore Police Officers Charged with Racketeering

March 10, 2017 by

A federal grand jury has indicted seven Baltimore police officers, all members of an elite task force, charging them with theft, extortion, fraud and filing false police reports. One of the officers has also been charged with trafficking drugs. Prosecutors say the seven men often made illegal traffic stops or engaged in illegal search and seizure, taking drugs and cash for personal use or to sell. The indictment alleged that many of the victims had not committed any crime, but were simply victims of wrongdoing by the officers. The indictment also alleges that the policemen submitted bogus overtime, often claiming to be working while they were on vacation. Between them, the seven officers allegedly took home around $400,000 in fraudulent overtime in just one year.

Many local criminal defense attorneys say the arrests jeopardize a number of convictions over the last few years. They say that any case these officers were involved in may be suspect, as the officers’ testimony will likely be considered unreliable.

Top-Rated Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer

For more than three decades, attorney Jonathan Scott Smith has successfully protected the rights of people facing criminal prosecution in Maryland. He takes a comprehensive approach to criminal defense, carefully gathering and preserving all evidence in your case. He’ll review police reports to ensure that police followed proper procedures and that your constitutional rights were not violated.

Attorney Smith is well-respected among clients and colleagues, earning recognition as a Maryland Super Lawyer, as well as an AV-rating under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System (the top rating possible). Honored as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine, he has also received the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO, with an average client review of 5 stars (the highest rating possible). He also holds a 10.0 Superb rating as a litigation attorney from AVVO.

Experienced Baltimore County Criminal Defense Attorney

Let us help protect your rights in a criminal matter. Contact our office by e-mail or call 410-740-0101 to set up an appointment. We defend people throughout Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

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