Baltimore, MD Arson Defense Attorneys

Lawyers for Charges of Arson or Malicious Burning in Baltimore, Maryland

Arson is a serious crime in Maryland that is prosecuted very aggressively by prosecutors. These cases typically involve the burning of a structure or an automobile. More often than not, police arson investigators focus on the owner of the property, who they may believe to have a substantial financial motive to commit the crime in order to receive insurance proceeds.

At Silverman Thompson, our criminal defense trial team handles dozens of these matters every year. We can help clients understand the accusations they are facing and the potential penalties they may face. We will provide guidance on the steps defendants can take to respond to claims that they purposely burned property, and we will work to help our clients avoid convictions that could lead to serious penalties.

Addressing Arson Investigations

It is imperative for a person who is contacted by the police in an arson investigation to speak to a criminal defense attorney prior to speaking to the police investigators. Arson investigations are scientifically complex, and investigators are highly educated and trained. Many people in these investigations incriminate themselves in their initial interviews with the police without even realizing that this is what they are doing.

A person may try to provide a reasonable explanation or show that a fire was accidental, but when doing so, they may make statements that could be interpreted as a confession. Because words can easily be taken out of context, anything a person says may be used to argue that they purposely committed arson. By speaking to our lawyers before answering questions or giving statements, a person can protect against self-incrimination.

It also is important to monitor the investigation by the police in real time. In many of these cases, it is important to get defense experts involved before evidence is contaminated or destroyed by police investigators. In other cases, it may be necessary to identify and track down alibi witnesses or to put together a timeline of a person's activities on the date of the alleged offense. Many arson investigations take substantial time, and weeks or months may pass between the date of the incident and the date a person is formally charged. It is always far more difficult to identify witnesses and specify a timeline months later than it is if done immediately.

Finally, it is important to have a defense team that is experienced in these matters from the earliest possible date. In many cases, it may be possible to prevent charges from being filed in the first place by presenting alibi evidence or other evidence of actual innocence to the investigators and/or the prosecutors.

Arson Laws in Maryland

Under Maryland law, there are four statutes that deal with the burning of real and personal property. The term "arson" technically only applies to the burning of real property such as dwellings and structures. The statutes make the conduct a felony, and the only difference in the elements involved in a case will be whether or not the structure was occupied.

The burning of private property or personal property such as automobiles is known as malicious burning under Maryland Law. This offense is split up into two sections dealing with the value of the property. Essentially, if the property is valued at more than $1,000, an offense may be charged as a felony. If property was worth less than $1,000, an offense may be charged as a misdemeanor, although it will still carry a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison.

Contact Our Baltimore Arson Lawyers

At Silverman Thompson, we understand how to defend against charges of arson or malicious burning. We can provide guidance on the best steps to take to show that a person did not intentionally burn property, and we will work to help our client to prevent a conviction. Contact our Baltimore, MD arson and malicious burning attorneys at 410-385-2225 and arrange a free consultation.