Property Crimes and Non-Violent Felonies

Property crime charges in Maryland range from misdemeanor shoplifting to serious felonies carrying years in prison. A conviction — even for a non-violent offense — can follow you for decades, affecting your ability to work, rent housing, and rebuild your life. If you have been charged with a property crime or non-violent felony in Southern Maryland, you need a defense attorney who understands how these cases are built and how to take them apart.

At SoMD Criminal Defense, our partner Jeremy Widder spent nearly a decade as a Charles County prosecutor handling arson, theft, fraud, and financial crimes before founding this firm. He knows how investigators build property crime cases — and where those cases are vulnerable. Call (301) 818-0389 for a free consultation.

Property Crime Charges We Defend

We defend clients against the full range of property crime and non-violent felony charges in Maryland courts, including:

• Theft (misdemeanor and felony)
• Grand theft and felony theft over $1,500
• Burglary (first, second, third, and fourth degree)
• Breaking and entering
• Robbery and armed robbery
• Arson (first and second degree)
• Motor vehicle theft
• Shoplifting and retail theft
• Destruction of property / malicious destruction
• Trespassing
• Fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes
• Embezzlement
• Receiving stolen property
• Forgery and uttering

Understanding Maryland Property Crime Penalties

The severity of a property crime charge in Maryland depends primarily on the value of the property involved and the specific nature of the offense. Theft of property valued at less than $100 is a misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail. Theft of property valued at $1,500 or more is a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison. Theft of $100,000 or more carries up to 20 years.

Burglary is treated especially seriously. First-degree burglary — breaking and entering a home at night with intent to commit a crime — is a felony carrying up to 20 years in prison. Even fourth-degree burglary carries up to 3 years.

Beyond the prison sentence itself, a property crime conviction carries collateral consequences: difficulty finding employment, loss of professional licenses, immigration consequences for non-citizens, and a permanent criminal record that affects background checks. These are consequences your defense attorney should be fighting to prevent from the start of your case.

How We Defend Property Crime Cases

Every property crime defense begins with a careful review of the evidence. The State has to prove both that a crime occurred and that you are the person who committed it. Those are two separate burdens, and there are often weaknesses in one or both.

Challenging Identification Evidence

Many property crime charges rest on surveillance footage, eyewitness identification, or circumstantial evidence. Surveillance video quality varies widely, and eyewitness identifications are notoriously unreliable. We scrutinize the State’s identification evidence closely and challenge it when the facts warrant it.

Suppressing Illegally Obtained Evidence

Police must have proper justification to search your home, car, or belongings. If evidence was gathered without a valid warrant or through a stop that lacked reasonable suspicion, we file motions to suppress that evidence. When key evidence is suppressed, it often changes the entire trajectory of a case.

Challenging Intent and Knowledge

Many property crime charges require the State to prove that you acted intentionally or knowingly. If you did not know that property was stolen, lacked intent to permanently deprive the owner, or had a good-faith belief in your right to the property, these are defenses we develop and present. The distinction between a mistake and a crime matters enormously in property cases.

Negotiating for Reduced Charges or Restitution-Based Outcomes

In many non-violent property crime cases — particularly for first-time offenders — there is significant room to negotiate. This can mean reduced charges, probation before judgment, or restitution-based agreements that keep a conviction off your record. We pursue these outcomes aggressively when they are in our clients’ best interests.

Why Choose SoMD Criminal Defense for Your Property Crime Case

Former prosecutor experience with property and financial crimes. Jeremy Widder prosecuted arson, fraud, theft, and property crime cases in Charles County for nearly a decade. He knows how these investigations are conducted and where they fall short.

Focused criminal defense practice. We handle criminal matters exclusively — no family law, no personal injury. That focus means deeper knowledge of the criminal courts and the prosecutors you are up against.

Local court familiarity. We appear regularly in the District and Circuit Courts of Charles, Prince George’s, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties. We know how property crime cases are typically handled in each jurisdiction.

Contact a Southern Maryland Property Crime Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with theft, burglary, fraud, or any other property crime in Southern Maryland, contact SoMD Criminal Defense today. Call (301) 818-0389 for a free consultation or reach out online. We defend property crime charges in Waldorf, La Plata, Calvert County, St. Mary’s County, and Prince George’s County.