Serving Maryland and Washington DC Since 1993 | Call (301) 870-1200
A criminal charge in Maryland can change the next decade of your life. A conviction can mean jail time. It can mean fines. It can mean lost jobs and a record that shows up on every background check. The choices you make in the first 48 hours often matter more than the courtroom itself.
Castro Law Group has been defending people accused of crimes since 1993. From our Waldorf office at 11701 Central Avenue, Suite 200, we help clients across Charles County, St. Mary’s County, Calvert County, Prince George’s County, and Washington, D.C. If you’ve been charged or are under investigation, call (301) 870-1200 for a free consultation.
From our office in Waldorf, we represent criminal defense clients in criminal defense attorney serving Charles County, MD, as well as St. Mary’s County, MD criminal defense lawyer and defending clients across Calvert County, MD.
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When you’re charged with a crime, the State doesn’t wait. Police, prosecutors, and the State’s Attorney’s office start building their case the moment charges are filed. The right Maryland criminal defense lawyer can start protecting you just as fast. Many people make the mistake of waiting until their first court date to hire counsel. By then, evidence may be lost. Witnesses may have moved on. Statements may already be in a police report.
A Maryland criminal defense lawyer can step in right away to:
You only get one chance to defend a criminal charge the right way. We treat every case that way.
If you’re reading this right after an arrest, here’s what matters most in the next 48 hours.
Stay quiet. Anything you say to police, cellmates, or even friends and family on a recorded jail line can be used against you. Politely decline to answer questions. Ask for a lawyer.
Don’t consent to a search. If officers ask to search your car, your phone, or your home, you have the right to say no. Make them get a warrant.
Write down what happened. As soon as you can, write down everything you remember. The names of officers. The time of day. What was said. What was searched. These details fade fast, and they often matter.
Call a Maryland criminal defense attorney before your first court date. The bail hearing is your first chance to fight. Having counsel there can change the outcome.
Castro Law Group helps people facing a wide range of state charges in Maryland and D.C. Each practice area below has its own page. Each one explains the law, the penalties, and how we defend these cases.
Assault charges. First- and second-degree assault charges in Maryland carry steep penalties. First-degree assault alone can mean up to 25 years in prison. We handle bar fights, domestic disputes, and false claims.
Burglary. Maryland has four degrees of burglary. Each has its own elements and sentencing range. Where police can’t prove intent at the time of entry, the case may not survive a motion to dismiss.
Drug crimes. Possession, distribution, possession with intent to distribute, and CDS paraphernalia all fall under drug crimes. Marijuana laws changed in Maryland in 2023. We keep up with what’s still chargeable and what isn’t.
DUI and DWI. A first-offense DUI/DWI in Maryland can mean a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and 12 points on your license. We push back on the traffic stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath or blood evidence.
Expungements. Some cases qualify for an expungement. If yours ended in acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi, or certain probation outcomes, you may be eligible. Getting old records off your background check can mean the gap between a job offer and a rejection.
Theft. Maryland’s theft statute covers shoplifting, embezzlement, and theft scheme charges. The felony threshold is $1,500. Value disputes are often where these cases are won.
Traffic offenses. Serious traffic offenses like reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and fleeing a police officer aren’t just tickets. They’re criminal charges that hit your insurance, your license, and your record.
Violent crimes. Robbery, armed robbery, and aggravated assault are pushed hard across Maryland. Our work on violent crimes cases focuses on ID issues, self-defense claims, and challenges to physical evidence.
Weapons charges. Maryland’s gun laws are some of the strictest in the country. Wear, carry, and transport violations, handgun in a vehicle, and possession by a prohibited person are all common weapons charges we handle.
Founded in 1993. Three decades of defending Maryland clients gives us a working knowledge of how local prosecutors, judges, and courthouses work. That’s especially true in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties.
Free initial consultation. You won’t pay anything to learn where you stand. Call us, tell us what happened, and we’ll explain your options before you commit.
Available evenings and weekends. Criminal charges don’t wait for business hours. Neither do we. We set appointments around your work and family.
Calls returned within 24 hours. When you leave a message, you’ll hear back. The most common complaint people have about defense lawyers is poor follow-up. We don’t operate that way.
Most criminal cases follow the same general path, though every case has its own wrinkles:
We walk you through each step before it happens. No surprises.
Maryland law treats felony and misdemeanor charges differently. Under Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-106, felony crimes have no statute of limitations. Prosecutors can file charges at any time. Most misdemeanors carry a one to three year statute of limitations. Some crimes have longer windows, like stalking (10 years) and sexual extortion (5 years). If you’ve been told an old case has gone away, don’t assume it has. Check with a lawyer first.
We represent criminal defense clients across Maryland and D.C., including:
For background on Maryland criminal records and how to clean them up, Maryland’s People’s Law Library has a clear, plain-language guide maintained by the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library.
Castro Law Group also helps clients with personal injury and family law matters. If your situation crosses practice areas, for example, a criminal charge tied to a custody fight, we can handle both under one roof.
Most Maryland criminal defense lawyers charge a flat fee or hourly rate, not a contingency fee. Maryland Rule 19-301.5(d) prohibits contingency fees in criminal cases. Castro Law Group offers a free initial consultation so you can understand the scope and cost before you commit. Call (301) 870-1200.
Yes. Castro Law Group offers a free initial consultation for criminal defense matters in Maryland and D.C. You can call (301) 870-1200 during business hours, or request an evening or weekend appointment.
Yes. Our Waldorf office sits inside Charles County, and we regularly appear in the District and Circuit Courts of Charles, St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Prince George’s counties, as well as D.C. Superior Court.
Felonies are the more serious category, generally carrying longer maximum sentences and lifelong consequences. Maryland is unusual because some misdemeanors, like second-degree assault, carry up to 10 years in prison, which is longer than some felonies.
You may. Maryland allows expungement for cases that ended in acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi, and certain probation-before-judgment outcomes. Eligibility depends on the charge and how the case closed. Our expungements page explains the rules in detail.
There is no time limit for felony charges. Prosecutors can file at any time. Most misdemeanors must be charged within one year, though some have a two- or three-year window, and stalking has a 10-year window.
Politly decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer. You have the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment and the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. Call Castro Law Group at (301) 870-1200 before you speak with investigators.
A criminal charge isn’t a conviction. The State has to prove its case, and you have the right to push back at every step. Call Castro Law Group at (301) 870-1200 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
Contact us to discuss your case and find out how we can help you navigate your legal challenges. Our team is ready to provide a consultation and develop a strategy that works for you.
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