Anatomy of a Prosecution

Process

Understanding the Court Process in Charles County

After a crime is reported, the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office reviews the case to determine appropriate criminal charges. Cases may then proceed through multiple stages of the criminal justice process, including bail review, investigation, grand jury proceedings, arraignment, trial and sentencing.

Certain criminal matters, including many motor vehicle violations and misdemeanor offenses, are handled in District Court. More serious felony offenses and all jury trials are handled in Circuit Court.

In felony cases, defendants may choose either:

A bench trial, where a judge determines the outcome

A jury trial, where a jury renders a verdict after hearing the evidence presented during trial

01. Opening Statements

Prosecutors and defense attorneys outline the evidence they expect to present during the trial.

02. State’s Case

The prosecutor presents evidence and witness testimony on behalf of the State of Maryland.
In criminal cases, the burden is on the State to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

03. Defendant’s Case

After the State rests its case, the defense may present evidence and witnesses. Defendants are not required to testify on their own behalf.

04. Jury Instructions

At the conclusion of the evidence, the judge provides the jury with instructions regarding the legal issues and applicable laws relevant to the case.

05. Closing Arguments

Both the prosecution and defense summarize the evidence presented during the trial and explain their respective positions to the jury.

06. Jury Deliberations

The jury reviews the evidence presented and deliberates privately before reaching a decision.

07. Jury Verdicts

A jury verdict is announced once the jury reaches a unanimous decision.
If the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict, the judge may declare a mistrial. In some cases, prosecutors may choose to retry the case.

08. Sentencing

If a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty, the judge determines the sentence based on Maryland sentencing guidelines and the specific circumstances of the case.

Sentences may include:

Probation Fines Community service IncarcerationIncarceration Additional court-ordered conditions

Additional Criminal Process Information

Sentencing

More on Sentencing

After a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty, the court determines the sentence based on Maryland sentencing guidelines and the facts of the case.

Sentencing outcomes vary depending on:

The charges involved

Criminal history

Victim impact

Applicable sentencing laws

Other legal factors considered by the court

Opinions

Appellate Opinions

In Maryland, criminal defendants generally have the right to appeal Circuit Court decisions to the Appellate Court of Maryland (formerly the Court of Special Appeals).

Some appellate opinions are reported decisions, meaning they are publicly available and may be cited as legal authority in future cases.

Both the State and criminal defendants may also request review by the Supreme Court of Maryland (formerly the Court of Appeals). Similar to the United States Supreme Court, the Court is not required to hear every appeal.

Below are links to reported appellate opinions involving Charles County cases. Please note that opinions available online may not reflect final published versions.

Links

Appellate Opinion Links

Twigg v. State, 447 Md. 1 (2016)

Vielot v. State, 225 Md.App. 492 (2015)

State v. Manion, 442 Md. 419 (2015)

Twigg v. State, 219 Md.App. 259 (2014)

Stewart-Bey v. State, 218 Md.App. 101 (2014)

Scriber v. State, 437 Md. 399 (2014)

Browne v. State, 215 Md.App. 51 (2013)

Derr v. State, 434 Md. 88 (2013)

Gordon v. State, 431 Md. 527 (2013)