Southern Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys
When you are facing a criminal charge in Maryland, the attorney you hire matters more than most people realize. The difference between a conviction and a dismissal, between probation and prison, often comes down to who is in your corner — and how well they know the system they’re fighting in.
At SoMD Criminal Defense, we are a criminal defense firm built from the ground up on a single principle: every client deserves a lawyer who will actually listen to them, fight for them, and tell them the truth about their case. We represent clients throughout Southern Maryland — Charles County, Prince George’s County, Calvert County, and St. Mary’s County — from our offices in White Plains and Oxon Hill.
Meet Our Attorneys
Jeremy B. Widder — Partner
Jeremy Widder spent nearly a decade as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Charles County, one of the busiest criminal dockets in Southern Maryland. In that role, he tried more than 60 jury trials, prosecuted homicides, armed robberies, sex offenses, and major drug cases, and worked alongside the same law enforcement agencies that are now building cases against our clients.
That experience is not incidental — it is the foundation of how we defend cases. Jeremy knows how prosecutors think, how they evaluate evidence, where their cases are weak, and what it takes to change their minds. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and was named to The Daily Record‘s Criminal Law Power List in 2024, recognizing him among Maryland’s top criminal law practitioners.
Jeremy founded SoMD Criminal Defense because he believed there was a better way to practice — one built on honest communication, individual attention, and genuine advocacy for every client, regardless of the charge they face.
Kathryn Batey — Partner
Kathryn Batey served as Deputy District Public Defender for Southern Maryland before joining SoMD Criminal Defense, where she represented hundreds of clients in District and Circuit Courts across the region. Her background in public defense gives her a deep understanding of how to navigate the criminal justice system efficiently, compassionately, and effectively — even in the most complex cases.
Kathryn is known for her thorough preparation, her ability to connect with clients who are frightened or overwhelmed, and her willingness to take cases to trial when that is the right outcome. Her complementary experience alongside Jeremy means our clients benefit from both a prosecution and defense perspective on every case we handle.
Why Clients Choose SoMD Criminal Defense
We are not a high-volume firm that treats cases like a conveyor belt. We limit our caseload intentionally so that every client gets focused, strategic attention from the attorney handling their case — not a paralegal, not a junior associate, not whoever is available that day.
Criminal defense is all we do. We do not handle divorces, personal injury claims, or real estate transactions. That focus means our knowledge of Maryland criminal law is current, deep, and applied every day in courtrooms across Southern Maryland. We know the local judges, the prosecutors, and the procedural tendencies that shape outcomes in each county.
We practice in Charles County, Prince George’s County, Calvert County, and St. Mary’s County — regularly appearing in both District and Circuit Courts in each jurisdiction. Whether your case is a first-offense DUI in La Plata or a serious felony in Upper Marlboro, we bring the same level of preparation and commitment to your defense.
Our Approach to Criminal Defense
We start every case by listening — really listening — to what happened, what matters to you, and what you are hoping to achieve. Some clients want to fight their case at trial. Others want to resolve it quickly with minimal disruption to their lives. Some have jobs, security clearances, or professional licenses at stake. Others are facing deportation consequences or custody implications. We account for all of it.
From there, we review every piece of evidence the State intends to use against you. We file motions to suppress when police violated your rights. We challenge the reliability of breathalyzer results, eyewitness identifications, and forensic evidence. We negotiate from a position of knowledge — because we know what cases are worth and what prosecutors are willing to do. And when trial is the right answer, we try cases.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime in Southern Maryland, call us at (301) 818-0389 for a free consultation. The sooner you have an experienced attorney involved, the more options you have.
