Facing Allegations of Force
Accusations of violence require immediate, unwavering, and experienced intervention. Unlike many other criminal offenses, violent crime allegations are often highly emotional, carry significant political weight, and are investigated with intense scrutiny. For the accused, the stakes are nothing less than their freedom, as these charges are frequently paired with draconian sentencing enhancements and mandatory minimums.
Stanton Law DC provides a trial-gated, highly strategic defense designed to counter the government's immense resources. Our approach is proactive: we do not wait for the government to build its case. Instead, we immediately perform our own "deep dive" investigatory dive into the minutiae of the allegations, seeking out factual inconsistencies and constitutional failures that can derail a prosecution.
Representative Defense Strategies
Self-Defense and Justification
In cases involving assault or murder, the truth often lies in context. Developing a successful argument of self-defense, defense of others, or justification requires meticulous witness preparation and sophisticated trial advocacy. Critically, in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, once self-defense is raised, the burden often shifts to the prosecution to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Constitutional and Procedural Challenges
Violent crime investigations frequently involve intense interactions with law enforcement. We aggressively litigate violations of Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, challenging the voluntariness of confessions and the reliability of highly suggestive identification procedures (such as "show-ups") that taint the government's evidence.
Factual Defenses: Alibi and Identification
In many robberies and assaults, the fundamental question is not what happened, but who did it. Eyewitness misidentification is the single greatest cause of wrongful convictions. We rigorously attack the reliability of eyewitnesses, challenging their ability to observe and recount events under stress, while concurrently building affirmative defenses like alibi.
The Single Witness: Fallibility of Stranger Identification
Prosecutors often rely heavily on the identification by a single witness to secure a conviction in serious felony cases. Scientific consensus demonstrates that stress, the presence of a weapon, and cross-racial interactions significantly degrade accuracy. Stanton Law DC utilizes expert testimony and rigorous cross-examination to expose these factual vulnerabilities.
Hobbs Act Robbery (18 U.S.C. § 1951)
| Offense | Description | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbs Act Robbery18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) | Obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce by robbery. Typically used for robberies of businesses. | Maximum: 20 Years (+5 if paired with § 924(c) charge) |
| Hobbs Act Conspiracy18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) | An agreement between two or more people to commit a Hobbs Act robbery. | Same 20-year maximum as the substantive offense. |
Commonly Charged District of Columbia Offenses
The "While Armed" Enhancement (D.C. Code § 22-4502)
Committing a crime of violence while armed triggers severe secondary penalties, allowing for up to 30 additional years and mandatory minimum sentences that strip judges of their discretion.
| Statute & Offense | Description | Maximum Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| First-Degree MurderD.C. Code § 22-2104(a) | Purposely killing another with premeditation and deliberation, or felony murder. | 30-Year Mandatory Min. Maximum: Life Without Release |
| Second-Degree MurderD.C. Code § 22-2104(c) | Killing another with malice aforethought, but without premeditation. | Maximum: Life Imprisonment |
| ManslaughterD.C. Code § 22-2105 | Unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought. | Maximum: 30 Years |
| RobberyD.C. Code § 22-2801 | Taking anything of value by force, violence, or sudden seizure. | Maximum: 15 Years |
| CarjackingD.C. Code § 22-2803(a) | Taking a motor vehicle by force, violence, or putting in fear. | 7-Year Mandatory Min. Maximum: 21 Years |
| Armed CarjackingD.C. Code § 22-2803(b) | Carjacking while armed with a dangerous weapon. | 15-Year Mandatory Min. Maximum: 40 Years |
| AWIKD.C. Code § 22-401 | Assaulting another with the specific intent to commit murder or other violent crimes. | Up to 15 Years |
| Assault (Aggravated or ADW)D.C. Code § 22-404.01 / § 22-402 | Assault causing significant bodily injury or assault with a dangerous weapon. | Maximum: 10 Years |
Commonly Charged Maryland Violent Offenses
| Statute & Offense | Description | Maximum Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| First-Degree MurderMD Crim. Law § 2-201 | Premeditated, deliberate, and willful killings, felony murder, or killings involving poisoning/lying in wait. | Life imprisonment |
| Second-Degree MurderMD Crim. Law § 2-204 | Intentional killings that are not premeditated or do not meet first-degree criteria. | Maximum: 40 Years |
| Voluntary ManslaughterMD Crim. Law § 2-207 | Killing in the "heat of passion" or after adequate provocation. | Maximum: 10 Years |
| Armed RobberyMD Crim. Law § 3-403 | Robbery with a dangerous weapon or written instrument claiming presence of a weapon. | Maximum: 20 Years |
| RobberyMD Crim. Law § 3-402 | Felony of committing a robbery (unarmed). | Maximum: 15 Years |
| Carjacking / Armed CarjackingMD Crim. Law § 3-405 | Unauthorized possession of a motor vehicle by force or putting in fear. | Maximum: 30 Years |
| Assault - First DegreeMD Crim. Law § 3-202 | Assault involving strangulation, use of a firearm, or serious physical injury. | Maximum: 25 Years |