Criminal Cases

If you or a loved one are facing criminal charges in Maryland, no matter how serious they may seem, I can help you. Experience is very important when making your choice in an attorney to defend you. Retaining the Law Office of L. Michael Schaech, Esquire you will not be handed off to a paralegal or clerk every aspect of your case will be handled by L. Michael Schaech. Defense strategy varies, the law does not. Everyone has a unique set of circumstances.  Representation should always be approached in that fashion, in addition to protecting your legal rights. Mr. Schaech will take steps to ensure that the impact of the criminal charges is minimalized. Your initial consultation is free of charge, so call The Law Office of L. Michael Schaech today. "Remain silent and lawyer up".

Often, before and after a person is charged with a crime the police and investigators will make every effort to obtain a statement from the person "of interest". They will attempt to make it appear that giving a statement will help the defendant. That is far from the case. Without benefit of an attorney during any questioning the defendant is putting themself in grave peril. IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO GIVE ANY STATEMENTS OR INTERVIEWS TO THE POLICE, INVESTIGATORS OR DETECTIVES, WITHOUT BEING REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY DURING THE INTERVIEWS. If this happens to you REMAIN SILENT and make it clear to them that you will not speak without an attorney present. L. Michael Schaech is available 24/7 and if retained will be there with you during any interviews to insure you are giving information that will not be detrimental to your case. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO TALK TO THE POLICE.

If you are convicted, the fines, sentances imposed against you as well as damage to your criminal record, professional career and family life make take years to overcome. If charged with any felony or serious misdemeanor, L. Michael Schaech will have the experience at defending those charged with serious crimes and can make a large difference in the outcome.

There are two types of assaults. 1st Degree and 2nd Degree. Most often 2nd Degree Assault is charged as a misdemeanor. This depends on whether any weapons were used during the assult and the severity of the assault and the injuries to the victim. 1st Degree assault is charged as a felony. These 2 types of assaults are heard by different courts. 1st degree assault (Felony) Circuit court, and 2nd degree assault (Misdemeanor) District court.

There are a number of sex offense crimes. It is in your best interest to consult an experienced attorney in this area and let him or her explain the charges brought against you. 

Just to name a few:

1st and 2nd degree rape.

1st, 2nd and 3rd degree sexual assault.

Attempted rape or attampted sex offense.

Sex abuse of a minor. 

Conviction of sex crime cases most often requires the defendant to be placed on the sex offenders registery.

1st degree Murder is defined as the actual intent coupled with the fully formed malicious purpose to kill, with enough time for deliberation and premediation to lapse so as to convince a fact finder that the slaying was not the offshoot of some intemperate conduct, rashness, or temper, but as an act done under the direction of a mind that is fully conscious of its own design. Malice is an essential ingredient of the offense of first degree murder. It must be alleged and proven either expressly or by inference.

2nd degree murder is defined as a slaying that contains the malice factor, but is not embraced within murder committed by means of poison, lying in wait, or by wilfulness, deliberateness, and premediation or during the course of the commission of or the preparation or attempt to commit one of the felonies specified in the criminal code. 

Burglary is defined as the breaking and entering of a dwelling place with the intent to commit a felony therein. Marylnd has multiple statutes concerning burlary and is not limited to the above.

Felony theft may also include white collar crimes, grand theft, identity theft, fraud just to name a few. 

Michael Schaech also concentrates in a number of other areas of law below are just to name a few.

Expungement, conspiracy, violating a protective order, violating probation, drug crimes including possession with intent to distribute, king pin, domestic violence as well as a number of others.

Often prior to retaining an attorney many are confused between things that fall under civil vs. criminal law. 

The above listed crimes is not a total list of all crimes in Maryland. This is just a snapshot of Maryland criminal law. L. Michael Schaech handles ALL types of criminal cases in ALL counties of Maryland, including expungements and violations of probation and protective orders.