Maryland Gun Lawyer | Criminal Defense

What Can a Maryland Gun Attorney Do for You?

If you’re facing a gun charge in Maryland, the stakes are serious. A conviction can mean mandatory prison time, lasting damage to your record, and the permanent loss of your right to carry a firearm. Maryland enforces some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and prosecutors pursue these cases aggressively.

Gun charges in Maryland cover a wide range of offenses, from carrying without a permit to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. Each charge carries its own penalties, and the facts of your arrest can dramatically affect your exposure. What matters most right now is that you understand your situation and that you have a defense attorney who knows how Maryland gun law actually works.

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At Scrofano Law PC, Attorney Paolo Gnocchi has defended clients across Maryland for more than 20 years, including in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and courts throughout the state. He started his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore City, which means he understands how prosecutors think and how they build gun cases. That background gives clients at Scrofano Law PC a real advantage when it counts.

A gun charge doesn’t have to define your future. But you need to act quickly. Evidence gets locked in early, and the decisions made in the first days after an arrest can shape everything that follows. If you’re dealing with a Maryland gun charge, whether it’s a misdemeanor or a felony, the right defense counsel can make a significant difference in how your case resolves.

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How Scrofano Law PC Defends Maryland Gun Cases

Attorney Paolo Gnocchi builds each defense around the specific facts of your arrest, the search, the stop, the evidence, and your record.

Maryland gun charges are prosecuted hard. Even a first-time misdemeanor can carry months in jail, and felony gun offenses come with mandatory minimum sentences a judge can’t reduce. If you’re a prohibited person, the penalties go higher still. Many people charged with gun offenses don’t fully understand what they’re facing until it’s too late to build a strong defense.

The consequences don’t stop at sentencing. A conviction follows you. It affects your ability to find work, limits where you can live, and permanently strips your gun rights. If you don’t challenge the case early, you lose options that won’t come back.

Attorney Gnocchi reviews every aspect of your case, the legality of the stop and search, whether the prosecution can actually prove knowing possession, and whether there are procedural errors that undermine their evidence. He has tried and won hundreds of criminal cases, including weapons offenses, across Maryland courts. His approach is direct and strategic: find every weakness in the state’s case and use it.

Maryland’s gun laws are detailed and layered. You need someone who handles them regularly, not someone learning on your case.

Why Clients in Maryland Choose Scrofano Law PC

Attorney Paolo Gnocchi brings over two decades of criminal defense experience, including years as a prosecutor, to every gun case he handles.

A Prosecutor’s Perspective, Now Working for You

Attorney Gnocchi began his career at a respected Rockville law firm before becoming an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore City. In that role, he prosecuted serious criminal cases before some of Maryland’s busiest courts. In 2004, he moved into criminal defense, and in 2009, he opened his own practice.

That experience on both sides of the courtroom matters. He knows how prosecutors approach gun cases, how they frame the evidence, and where the pressure points are. That insight is something most defense attorneys simply don’t have.

Hundreds of Criminal Cases Tried and Won

Over more than 20 years, Attorney Gnocchi has tried and won hundreds of criminal cases, ranging from traffic offenses to first-degree murder. He has also served as a felony panel attorney for the Office of the Public Defender in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and was certified as a CJA Attorney before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

That range of experience means he’s not rattled by the facts of a gun case, no matter how complex. He’s handled serious charges before, and he knows what it takes to get a result.

Recognized in the Legal Community

Attorney Gnocchi holds a perfect 5 out of 5 rating on Avvo and has been recognized by Super Lawyers. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley appointed him to the Maryland Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, where he served from 2009 to 2014. In 2017, he was featured in the District of Columbia Bar magazine for his work with Spanish-speaking clients on criminal and immigration matters.

Former clients describe him as “top notch” and a “terrific, caring attorney.” That reputation isn’t an accident, it reflects years of showing up prepared and fighting hard for every client.

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Multilingual Representation

Attorney Gnocchi is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. He has made multiple appearances as a legal analyst on CNN Español and local television and radio. For Spanish-speaking clients navigating Maryland’s criminal courts, direct communication in your language can make a real difference in how your case is handled.

What to Expect When You’re Charged With a Gun Offense in Maryland

Maryland gun cases move quickly. Understanding what happens at each stage, and what your attorney should be doing, helps you make better decisions from the start.

Step 1: The Arrest and Initial Investigation

Gun charges in Maryland often begin with a traffic stop, a police call, or a tip. Officers may search a vehicle, home, or person based on probable cause or a warrant. The legality of that search is one of the first things a defense attorney should examine.

If you’re stopped or arrested, stay calm and exercise your right to remain silent. Do not answer questions about the firearm or consent to additional searches. Ask to speak with an attorney immediately.

Step 2: Charging Decision

After the arrest, the prosecutor reviews the evidence and decides which charges to file. The specific charge depends on the circumstances of the case: what type of firearm was involved, whether you have a prior record, where the incident occurred, and whether the gun was used in connection with another crime.

Maryland’s Criminal Code covers a range of gun offenses, from misdemeanors like wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm without a permit under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-203, to serious felonies like using a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The charge you face shapes the entire defense strategy.

Step 3: Case Review and Defense Strategy

This is where your defense attorney does the most important work. Attorney Gnocchi reviews every piece of evidence, analyzes the legality of the stop and search, and identifies weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

Common defense strategies in Maryland gun cases include:

Challenging an illegal search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment
Contesting constructive possession, proving you didn’t knowingly control the firearm
Raising a lack of intent where the facts support it
Identifying procedural errors or chain-of-custody problems with the evidence
Asserting applicable statutory exceptions, such as travel to or from a gun range under § 4-203

Step 4: Negotiation or Trial

Many Maryland gun cases are resolved through plea negotiations. When the evidence supports it, Attorney Gnocchi works to reduce charges or negotiate an outcome that avoids the harshest penalties. When the case should go to trial, he’s ready.

He has extensive trial experience across Maryland courts, including Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. His background as a former prosecutor means he anticipates the state’s arguments and prepares accordingly.

Step 5: Sentencing and Post-Conviction Options

If a conviction occurs, sentencing is the next critical stage. Some Maryland gun offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences, which limit judicial discretion. Knowing this going in helps you understand what’s possible and what’s at stake.

Depending on the outcome, post-conviction options may also be available. An experienced attorney can advise you on appeals, motions, or other avenues based on your specific situation.

Talk to a Maryland Gun Lawyer Today

Gun charges in Maryland can carry serious penalties, including mandatory prison sentences, permanent firearm restrictions, and long-term criminal consequences. Early legal review may help identify issues involving the stop, search, seizure of the firearm, or the prosecution’s evidence before the case moves further through the court system.

Scrofano Law PC handles firearm cases involving illegal possession allegations, handgun permit violations, weapons offenses tied to other criminal charges, and felony gun prosecutions in courts across Maryland. Attorney Paolo Gnocchi reviews the facts surrounding the arrest, search procedures, and the prosecution’s evidence to identify legal and procedural issues that may affect the case.

If you were charged with a gun offense in Maryland, contact us to discuss your case, understand the charges, and learn more about the legal options available to you.

What are the penalties for carrying a firearm without a permit in Maryland?

Under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-203, carrying, wearing, or transporting a firearm without a valid permit is a misdemeanor. The penalty ranges from 30 days to three years in jail and a fine of $250 to $2,500. Penalties increase for repeat offenses and if the offense occurs on school property.

Can a prior conviction prevent me from legally owning a gun in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony, a crime of violence, or a misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of more than two years from possessing a firearm. Additional disqualifiers include being under 21, being subject to a protective order, or having recent DUI or controlled substance convictions.

What is the mandatory minimum for using a handgun during a crime in Maryland?

Using or possessing a handgun during the commission of a crime of violence is a felony in Maryland. It carries a five-year mandatory minimum sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence. The judge has no discretion to go below that minimum.

Can the charges be reduced or dismissed if the search was illegal?

Possibly. If law enforcement found the firearm during an unlawful stop or search, without a valid warrant or probable cause, a defense attorney can file a motion to suppress the evidence. If the court grants the motion, the prosecution may not be able to proceed. The outcome depends on the specific facts of the case.

Does Maryland’s assault weapon ban apply to handguns?

Maryland law separately regulates assault pistols under Crim. Law § 4-301 et seq. Possessing, transporting, or transferring an assault pistol is a misdemeanor unless it was lawfully owned before June 1, 1994, and properly registered. Possessing an assault pistol during a crime of violence carries a five-year mandatory minimum, with higher minimums for subsequent offenses.

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