MEMA “stay at home” violations
On March 30th, Governor Larry Hogan issued a “Stay-at-Home” Executive Order to protect the health and safety of all residents in Maryland. This Order states that no Maryland resident should leave their home unless it is for an essential job or an essential reason, such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention, or for other necessary purposes.
Local police and sheriffs have been instructed to start charging and arresting citizens for violating this order. It has been given criminal penalties, through:
The Maryland Emergency Management Act 14-114
Governors Health Emergency Powers 14-3A-08
These could be charged as:
- HLTH EMERGENCY FAIL COMPLY
- SOE-MEMA WILLFUL VIOLATION
- SOE- MEMA VIOLATION
These offenses are Misdemeanor charges and carry penalties of 1 year and a fine of up to $5000.
There are a variety of defenses that can be used in charges like this. It is also likely that officers have never issued these types of charges and prosecutors have never tried them. You need an experienced attorney on your side to guide you through this process and expose any deficiencies made by the officer in charging or by the prosecutor in trial.
In these uncertain times very last place you or your loved ones want to be is detained in a cell with minimal room, little to no fresh air without access to health care if necessary.
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.