Domestic Assault – Upper Marlboro Assault Charge Attorney

At The Law Offices of John J. Pikulski, IV, LLC, I provide tenacious, comprehensive defense against domestic violence, assault and related charges to people in Prince George’s County, Calvert County and throughout the state of Maryland.

Aggressive Assault Defense

I frequently work with people facing charges of assault and domestic violence. Assault is a violent crime, defined by Maryland law as the offensive touching or attempted touching of another person without consent, or placing that person in immediate fear of an intentional touching against his or her consent.

Assault can consist of even slight conduct, such as a push or shove, and it usually results from a verbal dispute that has escalated to physical contact. The severity of these charges depends on many factors, including whether a weapon was used. Regardless of the circumstances, any assault charge is a serious matter.

There are a variety of defenses to assault, starting with self defense. The degree of the response, opportunity to leave are just a few of the factors that go into a well organized effective self defense case.

Domestic violence cases can be very complicated. In some situations, once tempers cool, you are facing criminal charged neither party even wants to proceed on anymore. I have guided couples through these situations with great success. Once you call the police, a case can’t simply be dropped. The parties are you and the State of Maryland. In these situations we need to talk to the States Attorneys office, and see what our options are going forward. If the case can be dropped, at this point, it will be.

Contact An Experienced Upper Marlboro Lawyer Fighting Assault Charges

In the face of any criminal charge, it is important to contact an attorney as quickly as possible to begin protecting your rights and preserve important evidence. I will help you respond quickly and aggressively to accusations of assault, building a strong defense to help you achieve the best possible result in your case.

To learn more about my practice and how I can help you, please contact me online or call my office at 301-627-5297. I offer a free initial consultation and flexible payment options so we can immediately begin building your defense.

Questions

Can I, or the other party, just drop the case?

Usually, it’s not that simple. Once someone calls the police or criminal charges are filed, the matter becomes the State’s responsibility. That is why criminal cases are titled State of Maryland vs. (defendant’s name). In contrast, civil matters—such as protective or peace orders—are much easier to dismiss because they are between private parties (Person 1 vs. Person 2), and the State is not directly involved.

What can I do about someone filing completely false charges against me?

In Maryland, criminal charges can be filed by a police officer, a prosecutor, or a commissioner. If the charges were filed by law enforcement or a prosecutor, they typically follow some level of investigation. However, many commissioner-charged cases originate from citizen complaints.

A citizen can report allegations to a commissioner’s office, often located in courthouses or detention centers. The commissioner may then decide to issue charges, which can result in either a summons or a warrant. A warrant requires the individual to be arrested and processed at a detention center, while a summons is a notice requiring the individual to appear in court. More information on warrants can be found here: Warrants.

Someone filed criminal charges against me, but I’m really the victim here. What can I do?

It is not uncommon in assault cases for both parties to claim they are the victim. These situations can be especially complex. When you are considered a victim, the State represents your interests. However, if you are also charged, the State is prosecuting you, which creates a conflict—meaning they cannot assist you in building your defense.

In these cases, an attorney can play a critical role by acting as a bridge between you and the State. They can help present your side of the story, provide evidence, and, in some situations, persuade the State to dismiss the charges against you and proceed against the other party instead.