Former Prosecutors Defending Serious Charges in Worcester County
A felony DUI charge in Maryland means someone was killed or seriously injured. The consequences reach far beyond a suspended license or a weekend in jail. If you’ve been arrested following an accident in Ocean City or anywhere in Worcester County, the time to act is now.
MacDonald Law Office, LLC represents residents and vacationers charged with felony drunk driving in Ocean City, MD. Our firm regularly defends visitors to Ocean City, Assateague, and Chincoteague National Parks who face DUI and DWI charges while traveling, including out-of-state drivers navigating both Maryland’s courts and their home state’s licensing agency.
If you’re facing a felony DUI charge in Ocean City, contact us now for a free consultation. We offer flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends, and can meet with you in Ocean City by appointment. Call (410) 348-7809 to speak with our attorneys directly.
Why Former Prosecutors Defend Felony DUI Cases Differently
Andrew and Cynthia MacDonald both served as criminal prosecutors in Wicomico County before building their defense practice. Andrew spent more than 10 years as an assistant state’s attorney, handling every category of criminal case from DUI to murder and trying more than 100 jury trials. That background shapes how we approach felony-level DUI defense.
We understand how the state constructs these cases because we’ve built them. When prosecutors in Worcester County prepare a homicide by vehicle while under the influence charge or a life-threatening injury charge, we know the evidence they rely on, the experts they call, and the arguments they favor. That knowledge informs our defense strategy from the first consultation.
MacDonald Law Office, LLC is a small firm. You work directly with our attorneys, not with a paralegal. When you call, we answer. When you have questions, you get straight answers. That matters most when the stakes are highest.
We Meet Clients Where They Are
Our primary office is in Salisbury, directly across from the district court. We also meet with clients in Ocean City by appointment, which matters when you’re a visitor who can’t easily travel inland. We represent clients from across the country who were charged while visiting Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and we’re familiar with the logistical pressures out-of-state defendants face.
Talk to a Felony DUI Attorney Before You Make Any Decisions
A felony charge involving death or serious injury carries potential prison time and lasting consequences for your record, your license, and your life. Don’t wait to understand your options.
We offer a free initial consultation and can schedule on short notice when your situation is urgent. Call (410) 348-7809 to reach MacDonald Law Office, LLC and speak directly with a felony drunk driving attorney who has stood on both sides of these cases.
When a DUI Becomes a Felony in Maryland
Under Maryland Transportation Code §21-902, a standard DUI charge is a misdemeanor. That classification holds even for drivers with multiple prior convictions. Repeat offenses bring steeper mandatory minimum jail terms, longer ignition interlock requirements, and higher fines, but the charge itself stays a misdemeanor.
A DUI rises to a felony in Maryland when impaired driving causes another person’s death. Causing a life-threatening injury while impaired carries penalties nearly as serious, though the law classifies that charge differently:
Death caused by impaired driving: Homicide by vehicle or vessel while under the influence is a felony and carries a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Life-threatening injury caused by impaired driving: The life-threatening injury by vehicle while impaired charge is classified as a misdemeanor under Maryland Criminal Law, but still carries a maximum of 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, penalties as serious as many felonies.
If you’ve been charged under either statute, the prosecution can work to establish that your impairment directly caused the death or injury. That causal link is a critical element of the state’s case and one of the first things we examine.
Where Your Ocean City Felony DUI Case Will Be Heard
Felony charges in Worcester County, and any case in which a defendant requests a jury trial, are heard at the Circuit Court for Worcester County in Snow Hill. That’s a different courthouse from where standard misdemeanor DUI cases are typically handled. Misdemeanor charges from within Ocean City’s city limits generally go to the District Court in Ocean City; charges from outside the city limits go to the District Court in Snow Hill.
A DUI arrest in Maryland also triggers a second, parallel process: an administrative license case with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. That MVA proceeding runs separately from the criminal case and can affect your driving privileges before the criminal matter is resolved. Out-of-state drivers face consequences from both Maryland’s MVA and their home state’s licensing agency, and we can help clients navigate that added complexity from the start.
How We Approach Felony DUI Defense
No two cases are identical, but several defense angles come up consistently in impaired driving cases, including felony-level charges.
Legality of the traffic stop: Evidence obtained after an unlawful stop may not be usable against you.
Field sobriety test administration: These tests have specific protocols; deviations in how they’re conducted can affect their reliability as evidence.
Breath and blood test accuracy: Equipment calibration records, maintenance logs, and testing procedures are all subject to review.
Breath test refusal: Refusing a chemical test triggers separate MVA penalties and can also affect what evidence is available at trial.
Causal connection: In felony cases involving death or injury, the state must establish that impairment caused the outcome, not simply that impairment was present.
In some DUI cases, a negotiated resolution may be possible, including a reduction in charges or, where eligible, a Probation Before Judgment (PBJ). A PBJ avoids a formal conviction entry and typically includes conditions such as probation, fines, and alcohol education. It isn’t available in every situation, and our job is to tell you honestly whether it’s a realistic option in your case. We don’t promise outcomes. We give you a clear-eyed assessment and fight for the best result the facts allow.
