Local attorney testifies in support of HB544

MARYLAND. – House Bill 544 in Maryland would add a new layer of assault charges, in the third degree.

Local attorney, Thomas Maronick Jr. testified in support of the bill in Annapolis. He said the legislation would allow for more fairness and balance for those who commit first time offenses.

Maronick told WMDT not every second-degree assault charge is the same and is hopeful that with this bill, offenders would have more appropriate sentences.

“There’d be another level of assault that doesn’t carry up to 10 years in jail, and currently, Maryland law provides that someone could get 10 years in jail, even on a first offense,” said Maronick. “Second-degree assault can be anything from an unwanted touching, to beating somebody up outside of a bar.”