What if I Kill Someone While DUI/DWI in Charles County, Maryland?

Driving under the influence (“DUI”) of alcohol or driving while impaired (“DWI”) by alcohol or drugs is a crime in Maryland. If you are DUI or DWI and there is an accident and someone is killed, that is also a crime under the laws of Maryland. If this happens, you will be charged with several crimes, including various possible crimes involving DUI/DWI and ALSO at least one crime that involves the negligent killing of another person. If you have been arrested and charged with DUI/DWI in Charles County, Maryland, and a person has been killed in an accident, you need to call an experienced and courtroom-proven Maryland criminal defense lawyer like the ones at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Call us at (301) 705-5137. You are going to need a skilled Maryland criminal defense team. We are available around the clock, 24/7.

For the fatality, there are four potential charges that could be filed against you by the Maryland prosecuting attorneys. These are:

• Criminally negligent manslaughter — the least serious crime considered a misdemeanor charge (but a person convicted faces a potential three-year jail term)
• Manslaughter by vehicle — a felony charge
• Homicide by motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol — also a felony charge
• Vehicular homicide while impaired by drugs, alcohol, or a controlled substance — a felony

Maryland prosecuting attorneys tend to be very strict when an alcohol or drug-related traffic death occurs. It is very common for all four of these charges to be filed against the accused. From the vantage point of the prosecuting attorneys, charging all four crimes is done to ensure that the jury will find sufficient evidence to render at least one guilty verdict. Here are the potential punishments (which will also include loss of driving privileges and potential mandatory enrollment in substance abuse counseling):

• Criminally negligent manslaughter — if convicted, a person faces a potential jail term of up to three years and up to $5,000 in fines for a first offense; a second or subsequent offense results in a potential jail term of up to five years and fines up to $10,000
• Manslaughter by vehicle — this charge is not limited to alcohol or drug use; this is charged where there is a fatality resulting from “grossly negligent” driving; if convicted, a person faces a potential jail term of up to 10 years and up to $5,000 in fines for a first offense; a prior homicide conviction increases the jail term to a potential of 15 years and fines of up to $20,000
• Homicide by motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol — if convicted, a person faces a potential jail term of up to five years and up to $5,000 in fines for a first offense; a second or subsequent offense results in a potential jail term of up to 10 years and fines of up to $10,000
• Vehicular homicide while impaired by drugs, alcohol, or a controlled substance — if convicted, a person faces a potential jail term of 3 years and up to $6,000 in fines for a first offense; a second or subsequent offense doubles the potential jail term and fines

Contact Waldorf, Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer at (301) 705-5137. We are Waldorf, MD, Criminal Defense lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.