Facing assault charges in Maryland can alter your life drastically. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony charge, the consequences of conviction potentially include jail time, fines, and a criminal record.
For this reason, you require the assistance of a legal professional with experience in this area. An attorney who can stand up for your rights and represent you competently in court is essential.
At Kunka Law, that’s what you get. Attorney Matt Kunka provides outstanding legal defense for clients facing assault charges in Glen Burnie, Columbia, and across the state of Maryland. His extensive experience and detail-oriented approach allow him to seek the most favorable terms from the prosecution and ensure your rights remain protected during this challenging part of your life.
Understanding Maryland Assault Charges: How Do They Work?
Maryland law defines assault as the act of causing physical harm (or threatening it) to another person. However, the crime falls into two categories: misdemeanor and felony.
- Misdemeanor assault: Maryland classifies a misdemeanor assault as “second-degree,” including pushing, slapping, or threatening physical violence. Unfortunately, the term “misdemeanor” can be misleading in this instance. Penalties for convicted individuals can include up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $2,500, which are severe compared to other misdemeanors.
- Felony assault: Felony assault is the more serious charge for severe incidents that cause serious bodily harm, including punching and the use of weapons. Courts can hand down penalties up to 25 years in prison for this crime.
These severe punishments reveal Maryland’s low tolerance of violent assault. As such, it is critical to work with an experienced attorney who understands the state’s justice system and how to work with it to achieve favorable outcomes. Matt Kunka understands that assault cases rest on a complex network of evidence, including witness testimony, intent, and the prosecution’s evidence, which aren’t always air-tight. Furthermore, he can work towards exoneration in cases where the combined case against you is weak or another suspect is more clearly implicated.
Why Choose Matt Kunka For Assault Defense?
When facing the prospect of long prison sentences, hiring the right assault defense attorney is critical. You need someone beside you who understands your predicament and has years of experience helping clients like you find their way to an acceptable resolution.
Matt Kunka, the founder of Kunka Law LLC, fits the bill. He has years of experience defending clients against misdemeanor and assault charges, bringing his tried-and-tested approaches to each case to ensure the best possible outcome. His methodical outlook explores every avenue available to you, allowing you to use the law in your favor, regardless of circumstances.
- Extensive in-depth case analysis: Matt looks into the fine print, exploring details that the courts and prosecution may miss. He investigates all aspects of the case from different perspectives, thinking outside the box if necessary, to enhance your options and outlook.
- Aggressive evidence challenges: Matt aggressively challenges the evidence against you, looking for flaws, weaknesses, and mitigating circumstances, changing the picture for the judge and jury. He examines police procedures, witness statements, and physical evidence to determine their truth value and permissibility in court.
- Personalized defense strategies: Matt explores personalized defense options that work around your character and situation. He looks at avenues relating to your conduct, your role in the community, and other factors that might influence the case.
Ultimately, Matt Kunka’s objective is straightforward - to provide a satisfactory resolution to your case. That could involve:
- Seeking a dismissal by the court (throwing out your case due to lack of evidence)
- Fighting for acquittal (seeking exoneration and no further charges against you)
- Reducing your sentence (finding mitigating circumstances to cut how long you must stay in prison)
Matt Kunka is Your Trusted Advocate In Glen Burnie And Columbia
Matt Kunka regularly serves clients across counties, including Frederick, Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel. He also has offices at:
- Glen Burnie: 7420 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
- Columbia: 5501 Twin Knolls Rd #102, Columbia, MD 21045
Regardless of where your arrest took place in Maryland or where you are currently being held, Matt Kunka can help. His expert legal support is everything you need for a satisfactory and fair outcome for your case.
Defending Against Assault Charges
Defending against assault charges is what Matt Kunka does best. His tailored strategies, based on the specifics of the situation, help you craft an organic case based on the available evidence.
Matt constructs numerous challenges to the prosecution’s case, including:
- Instances of mistaken identity: Matt Kunka looks for evidence of wrongful accusation where the prosecution has the wrong person. Many times, victims of assault cannot accurately identify the perpetrator in a line-up or court.
- Lack of intent: Matt explores the possibility that you did not intend to harm the victim. For example, perhaps you were reaching for your bag and accidentally struck someone, or maybe you dropped something, and it hit them, but it wasn’t deliberate.
- Self-defense: Matt looks into whether you were acting in self-defense. For example, perhaps the victim threatened you, and you saw assaulting them as the only option to protect yourself.
- Insufficient evidence: Matt can explore whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence to build a case against you. A single eyewitness report may not be enough to convict you.
Matt has considerable experience in these matters inside and outside the courtroom. He can help you craft a robust defense before you even present it to the jury, allowing you to plot a path to justice.
What To Expect From The Legal Process
Navigating assault charges is challenging because of the severity of the alleged offense. Police may be unwilling to cooperate and may subject you to extensive questioning.
Typically, here’s what happens:
- Arrest: Police arrest you at the alleged crime scene or another location afterward and book you. Then, they take your fingerprints and photographs and consign you to a jail cell.
- Initial appearance: Within a few hours, you will appear before a judge. They will read out the official charges against you and decide to grant bail.
- Pre-trial phase: The pre-trial phase is where your attorney collects evidence and explores your case. Matt looks into plea options (if the evidence against you is overwhelming) and other routes you could take (if the evidence is weaker).
- Trial: If you don’t reach a plea bargain, Matt helps you take the case to trial. Here, the judge and jury decide the outcome based on the evidence presented to the court.
- Sentencing: The judge will sentence you to prison, usually at a separate hearing. Matt works to ensure the penalties you receive are as low as possible if convicted.
Enduring this legal process can be taxing on the heart and soul. Because of this, Matt stays with you every step of the way, providing legal counsel and guidance to ensure proper treatment. Ultimately, Matt lets you work with what you have, even if the prosecution’s case against you seems strong.
Why You Should Act Quickly Following Assault Charges
Being accused of assault is no joke. As such, it is critical to act quickly following charges. Delaying could leave you even worse off. The sooner you contact Matt Kunka as your attorney, the better. Early interventions are essential for numerous reasons, including the following:
- Preserving evidence and ensuring that you have all the paperwork at your disposal for your defense in court
- Preventing missteps, such as providing police or the prosecution with evidence that could strengthen their case against you
- Negotiating early to reduce penalties and sentences by preventing cases from going to court
Following an assault arrest in Maryland, contact your attorney as fast as you can.
Contact Kunka Law, LLC Today
You don’t have to face assault charges in Maryland alone–Kunka Law can help. You can call us to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with Matt Kunka. If you decide to proceed with our services, we can represent you during the pre-trial and trial phases, ensuring you receive maximum protection.
Don’t delay. Take the first step today to securing a robust defense with Matt Kunka.
Maryland Assault Charges FAQs
First-degree assault is a felony in Maryland and usually involves extreme violence or the use of a weapon. Second-degree assault includes slapping or pushing, which results in minor harm to the victim.
Yes, the prosecution may be forced to drop assault charges against you if the evidence is weak. Many assault cases get to the arrest stage but don’t end up in court because the opposing party lacks evidence for a conviction.
Criminal defense attorneys help with assault charges by challenging evidence and constructing robust defenses that take all aspects of the alleged incident into account.