Weapons Offenses Lawyer in Baltimore County, Maryland
Handgun, Dangerous Weapon, and Prohibited-Person Charges in Towson, Essex, and Catonsville
A weapons charge in Baltimore County is usually one of three statutes. Criminal Law § 4-203 covers wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun. Criminal Law § 4-101 covers a dangerous weapon that is not a handgun. Public Safety § 5-133 covers possession of a regulated firearm by a person the statute says may not possess one, commonly referred to as a “prohibited person.” The charging document names the statute. That name decides the maximum penalty, whether a mandatory minimum penalty applies, and which court hears the case.
District Court in Towson, Essex, or Catonsville sets the first date on many of these misdemeanors. A felony under § 5-133, a use-of-a-firearm count, or a jury-trial prayer on a misdemeanor moves the case to the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. That court sits only in Towson.
At Shepard Law in Towson, principal attorney Stephen P. Shepard provides client-centered and compassionate criminal defense representation to individuals facing weapons charges throughout Baltimore County. With more than a decade of dedicated service defending clients in Towson, Essex, Catonsville, and surrounding communities, our firm focuses on understanding your unique circumstances and protecting your future with thoughtful, personalized advocacy.
Take the Next Step – Contact Shepard Law Today
Call Shepard Law at (410) 648-4008 or complete our secure online contact form for a free, confidential consultation. We also offer jail visits for a fee when needed. Attorney Stephen P. Shepard is prepared to listen carefully to your story, explain your rights, and provide the client-centered and compassionate representation you deserve.
Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun — § 4-203
Section 4-203 is the charge Shepard Law sees most often. The State must prove that the person wore, carried, or transported a handgun, on the person or in a vehicle on a public road or parking lot, without a statutory exception. A valid wear-and-carry permit is one exception. Transport to a range or a dealer, unloaded and in a case, is another. The State must also prove the item is a handgun under the statute.
Dangerous Weapons — § 4-101
Section 4-101 covers a dangerous weapon other than a handgun. A penknife without a switchblade is not a weapon under this section. The State must prove that the person wore or carried the weapon concealed, or wore or carried it openly with the intent to injure someone unlawfully. A conviction is a misdemeanor. The maximum penalty is 3 years, a $1,000 fine, or both. If the evidence shows the person carried the weapon with the deliberate purpose of injuring or killing another, the statute directs the court to impose the highest term of imprisonment.
Possession by a Prohibited Person — Public Safety § 5-133
Section 5-133 is a different case. The State must prove possession of a regulated firearm and a disqualifying status. A prior crime of violence, or certain controlled-substance convictions, triggers subsection (c). That subsection is a felony. The potential penalty range is 5 to 15 years. The court may not suspend the 5-year minimum penalty, and the person is not eligible for parole during that minimum, unless more than 5 years have passed since the person finished the sentence on the disqualifying conviction. In that later window the minimum is discretionary, and the State must give 30 days’ written notice before trial if it intends to seek it.
Related Counts the State Often Adds
The same stop can produce more than one weapons count, or a weapons count next to another charge:
- Use of a firearm in a crime of violence, § 4-204. The State charges this with the underlying felony. It carries its own mandatory term. It is not a simple possession case.
- A firearm in a drug case, Criminal Law § 5-621. The State adds this when it alleges a firearm during a controlled-substance offense. It is a felony with its own minimum.
- Deadly weapons on school property, § 4-102, and carry in a prohibited place. Location changes the charge. School property also raises the minimum on a § 4-203 count.
Where the Case Is Heard
District Court sits in Towson, Essex, and Catonsville. That is where a § 4-101 case and many first-offense § 4-203 cases start. The Circuit Court for Baltimore County sits only in Towson. A § 5-133 felony, a § 4-204 count, and a misdemeanor on which the defendant prays a jury trial are heard there.
Why Choose Shepard Law for Weapons Charges in Baltimore County
Stephen P. Shepard is a respected Baltimore County criminal defense attorney recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” Avvo with a 10.0 “Superb” rating, Martindale-Hubbell as a “Client Champion Platinum,” and The National Trial Lawyers as a “Top 40 Under 40.” He is an active member of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association and regularly appears in Baltimore County courts.
Our Towson office, located at 303 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson, MD 21204, serves clients across Baltimore County. At Shepard Law, you receive client-centered and compassionate representation focused on your individual needs and long-term well-being.
Take the Next Step – Contact a Weapons Offenses Lawyer in Towson Today
Call Shepard Law at (410) 648-4008 or complete our secure online contact form for a free, confidential consultation. We also offer jail visits for a fee when needed. Related public-order charges are covered on our crimes against the public page. A robbery with a weapon is on our armed robbery page. Attorney Stephen P. Shepard is prepared to listen carefully to your story and provide the client-centered and compassionate representation you deserve on a weapons charge anywhere in Baltimore County.
No. Section 4-203 is a misdemeanor. A first conviction carries 30 days to 5 years and a fine of $250 to $2,500. A repeat conviction raises the minimum and the maximum, and the court generally cannot suspend that minimum.
Section 4-203 is wear, carry, or transport without an exception. Section 5-133 is possession by a person the statute disqualifies. A crime-of-violence prior under § 5-133(c) is a felony with a 5-year minimum that the court may not suspend, subject to the five-year lookback and the State’s notice.
A penknife without a switchblade is excluded from § 4-101. Other blades and tools can still meet the definition. The charging document and the item control.
A misdemeanor starts in District Court in Towson, Essex, or Catonsville, depending on where the charge was filed. A felony, and a misdemeanor on which you pray a jury trial, goes to the Circuit Court in Towson.
Yes. Shepard Law represents clients from Towson, Essex, Catonsville, and surrounding communities. Call (410) 648-4008 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
