In Montgomery County, Maryland, criminal charges carry serious penalties — second-degree assault carries up to 10 years under Md. Code, Criminal Law Article. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has 21 documented case results in Montgomery County with a 95% favorable outcome rate. Contact an online enticement lawyer Maryland today.
Maryland criminal law defines offenses under the Criminal Law Article (CR) of the Maryland Code. The Justice Reinvestment Act expanded expungement eligibility for many non-violent offenses. Maryland’s Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) allows a judge to place you on probation without entering a formal conviction, keeping your record clean after successful completion. The online enticement lawyer Maryland at SRIS, P.C. understands these statutes.
Last verified: April 2026 | District Court of MD for Montgomery County | Maryland General Assembly Criminal Law Article
Review the official Maryland Criminal Law Code (CR) for complete statutory definitions. The District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County handles initial appearances and misdemeanor trials.
Montgomery County District Court handles all misdemeanor trials and initial appearances for felonies. The State’s Attorney for Montgomery County prosecutes these cases. Maryland’s Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) is a critical disposition that avoids a formal conviction on your record.
- Initial Appearance: You appear before a District Court commissioner within 24 hours of arrest for bail setting.
- Arraignment: You enter a plea at the District Court of MD for Montgomery County, 191 East Jefferson Street, Rockville.
- Pre-Trial Conference: Your attorney negotiates with the State’s Attorney for potential PBJ, Nolle Prosequi, or Stet disposition.
- Trial or Plea: Misdemeanor trials occur in District Court; felony cases move to Circuit Court for jury trial.
- Disposition: Options include PBJ (no conviction), Nolle Prosequi (charges dropped), Stet (inactive docket), or trial verdict.
- Expungement: File for expungement after acquittal, dismissal, PBJ (3-year wait), or qualifying conviction under the Justice Reinvestment Act.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, criminal penalties range from civil citations to 25 years in prison depending on the offense classification.
| Offense | Classification | Incarceration | Fine | License Impact | Additional Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second-Degree Assault | Misdemeanor | Up to 10 years | Up to $2,500 | None | Protective order possible; firearm prohibition |
| Theft ($100-$1,500) | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months | Up to $500 | None | Restitution required |
| Theft ($1,500-$25,000) | Felony | Up to 5 years | Up to $10,000 | None | Restitution required |
| First-Degree Assault | Felony | Up to 25 years | Up to $5,000 | None | Firearm prohibition |
| Drug Possession (non-marijuana) | Misdemeanor | Up to 4 years | Up to $1,000 | Driver’s license suspension possible | Drug treatment evaluation |
| Marijuana (under 10g) | Civil citation | None | $100 | None | No criminal record |
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997 by former prosecutor Mr. Sris. The firm brings over 120 years of combined legal experience to every case. Firm-wide, SRIS has handled 4,739+ documented case results with a 93%+ favorable outcome rate. Our tagline: “Advocacy Without Borders.”
Kristen M. Fisher, a former Assistant State’s Attorney in Maryland, brings firsthand prosecutorial insight to your defense. She joined SRIS in 2010 and dedicates 75% of her practice to litigation in Maryland state and federal courts.
Mr. Sris, founder and managing attorney, personally leads complex criminal defense matters. His background as a former prosecutor and his work amending Va. Code § 20-107.3 demonstrate his deep understanding of criminal law.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, SRIS has 21 total documented case results across all practice areas with a 95% favorable outcome rate.
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Firm-wide, SRIS has handled 4,739+ documented case results with over 93% favorable outcomes across VA, MD, NJ, NY, and DC.
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Our Rockville/MD Location
199 E. Montgomery Ave, Suite 100, Room 211, Rockville, MD 20850
Toll-Free: (888) 437-7747 | Local: (888)-437-7747
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Our Rockville/MD location serves clients at Montgomery County courts, accessible via I-270, I-495, and Route 355 (Rockville Pike).
Looking for a criminal defense lawyer near Montgomery County? We serve Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Wheaton, Kensington, Potomac, Olney, Damascus, Clarksburg, Takoma Park, and Chevy Chase.
24/7 phone consultations — (888) 437-7747 — meetings by appointment only.
Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor in Montgomery County, Maryland?
Yes. Many Maryland misdemeanors carry significant penalties — second-degree assault: up to 10 years; theft $100-$1,500: up to 6 months. An attorney can negotiate PBJ (no conviction on record) or dismissal.
What is Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) in Maryland?
It depends. PBJ allows a judge to place you on probation without entering a formal conviction. After successful completion, you can seek expungement after a 3-year waiting period. It is available for many offenses.
How long do I have to wait to expunge my record in Maryland?
It depends. Acquittals and dismissals are eligible immediately. PBJ requires a 3-year waiting period. The Justice Reinvestment Act expanded expungement eligibility for many non-violent convictions after 10 years.
Can I get a public defender in Montgomery County?
Yes. You must meet income eligibility requirements. The Office of the Public Defender for Montgomery County provides representation at initial appearance. If you do not qualify, consider hiring a private attorney.
What happens at my first court appearance in Montgomery County?
At your initial appearance, a District Court commissioner sets bail or conditions of release. You have a bail review hearing within 24 hours if detained. The court appoints a public defender if you qualify.
Learn more about our Maryland criminal defense lawyer services. We also serve Prince George’s County criminal defense lawyer and Howard County criminal defense lawyer clients. For related matters, see our DUI lawyer in Montgomery County and family law lawyer in Montgomery County pages.
View Kristen Fisher’s attorney profile and our Maryland office location.
Last verified: April 2026. Information current as of April 2026. Laws change — contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 for current guidance.