Posted on March 27, 2025 in Case Results

Attorney: Brian Thompson

Baltimore County Circuit Court

January 6-10

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 Posted on March 27, 2025 in Case Results

Attorney: Patrick Seidel

Anne Arundel County Court

December 30-January 3

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 Posted on March 27, 2025 in Case Results

Attorney: Patrick Seidel

North Avenue District Court

December 30-January 3

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 Posted on March 27, 2025 in Case Results

Attorney: Kurt Nachtman

Baltimore City District Court

December 23-27

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 Posted on March 27, 2025 in Case Results

Attorney: Brian Thompson

Howard County Circuit Court

December 16-20

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 Posted on March 21, 2025 in Appeals - State & Federal

In October 2023, attorneys Eric Bacaj and Andrew C. White won a partial acquittal for their client, a decorated veteran of the war in Afghanistan, who was facing serious child pornography charges in Anne Arundel County. The State accused the client of possessing and distributing child pornography but it had no evidence of the illegal images on any of the client’s electronic devices. Instead, the State attempted to tie the client to images that were stored remotely on a server maintained by Kik, a messaging app.

Partial Acquittal at Trial for Child Pornography Charges

The State introduced the images from Kik into evidence through a detective who did not have expertise in computer science or internet protocol (IP) geolocation. Nonetheless, the detective relied on his “training, knowledge, and experience” to tie the remotely stored images to our client through IP records from Verizon.

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 Posted on March 14, 2025 in Driving Under the Influence

As a criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of experience representing clients in DUI cases, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to thoroughly review the evidence and approach each case with a strategic mindset. Recently, I represented a 19-year-old man charged with driving under the influence in Baltimore County, Maryland, and I’m proud to say that my client’s case ended in a favorable outcome, due to an in-depth examination of the facts and my knowledge of how to handle DUI cases effectively.

The Facts of the Case

My client, a 19-year-old man, was pulled over by a Maryland State Trooper for speeding in a 55-mph zone. He was driving 86 mph, which certainly raised concerns about reckless behavior on the road. However, while speeding is serious, it is not automatically indicative of alcohol consumption or impaired driving.

The trooper’s report indicated that my client exhibited several "clues" during the field sobriety tests, such as swaying and stumbling, as well as smelling of alcohol. In the report, the officer also noted that my client denied consuming alcohol, which is a common narrative in DUI arrests. It might have been easy for many criminal defense attorneys to take this report at face value, assume the case was cut and dry, and advise their client to enter a guilty plea.

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 Posted on February 26, 2025 in Driving Under the Influence

Maryland has significantly increased the penalties for people who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or driving while impaired by alcohol (DWI).  If you have been charged with DUI or DWI, you need an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney who has experience handling these types of cases. If you are charged with a second or subsequent offense, the need for an experienced criminal defense attorney is even greater. 

What Is the Difference Between a DUI and a DWI?

Maryland law prohibits both driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI). Both laws are misdemeanors that criminalize drunk driving, however, a DUI is considered a more serious offense and has greater maximum penalties.

To be convicted of a DUI, the State must prove that you drove, or attempted to drive, with a blood-alcohol-concentration of .08 or higher (or, if under the age of 21, 0.02 or higher). Far less is required for a DWI conviction. The State need only prove that you drove, or attempted to drive, while impaired to some degree by drugs or alcohol.

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 Posted on February 12, 2025 in Family Law

In April 2024, the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (the "Local Department") notified Silverman Thompson’s client it had found him to be a person responsible for indicated child physical abuse of an infant foster child. Through diligent advocacy, Silverman Thompson helped a very deserving family achieve the justice they rightfully deserved and physical abuse against the child was ruled out.

For a finding of indicated child physical abuse, the Local Department must prove the following elements, pursuant to COMAR 07.02.07.11:

• Physical abuse with no mental injury;
• A physical injury;
• A child victim;
• A parent, caregiver, authority figure, or household or family member of the alleged victim responsible for the alleged abuse; and
• Circumstances including the nature, extent, and location of the injury indicating that the alleged victim’s health or welfare was harmed or was at a substantial risk of harm.

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 Posted on February 11, 2025 in Driving Under the Influence

Marijuana is legal for recreational consumption in Maryland, but the laws surrounding its use, especially when combined with driving, are still evolving and often confusing. This creates a complex landscape for those facing Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUI) charges under Maryland Transportation Article 21-902 (c) or (d), and it’s crucial to understand how these changes might affect your DUI. As a criminal defense attorney, I regularly see first-hand the legal grey areas and want to shed some light on this important topic.

Do "Per Se" Laws Apply to Marijuana in Maryland?

Maryland has a "per se" law for alcohol, under TA §21-902(a)(2), meaning that if your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is above a certain limit (.08%), you are automatically considered impaired, regardless of your actual driving ability.  This applies to alcohol consumption, but this isn’t as straightforward with marijuana or other controlled substances.

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