All Charges of Armed Robbery and Home Invasion Dropped in Catonsville

 Posted on August 24, 2026 in Criminal Defense

By Marshall T. Henslee, Criminal Defense Attorney 

This June, Partner Marshall T. Henslee and Silverman Thompson’s criminal defense team secured a dismissal of all charges in Baltimore County Circuit Court against our client facing decades of jail time.

Our client was charged in the first case with the armed robbery of a business in Catonsville and was charged in the second case with armed home invasion and robbery of a hotel room in Catonsville four days later. Both crimes took place in January 2024.

Between the two cases, our client faced a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a possible maximum sentence of 279 years. He went from the potential of life in prison to facing no charges.

After a careful review of the evidence, Attorney Henslee had reason to believe our client was innocent. Once he met with witnesses and collected evidence, he met directly with the prosecutor and disclosed what he had found, persuading the prosecutor to make an honest evaluation of our client’s case. After that evaluation, the prosecutor decided to drop all charges against our client.

Because of our diligence in fighting for our clients and long-standing relationships with prosecutors, our team at Silverman Thompson has a record of success in getting charges dismissed before trial.   

At Silverman Thompson, we know how to fight even the most serious criminal cases. Our top-ranked Baltimore criminal defense attorneys work tirelessly to help our clients. This includes using our relationships with local prosecutors to produce results.

Armed Robbery in Maryland

Robbery is taking property from another person through force or the threat of force. Armed robbery is more serious because a dangerous weapon is involved. Under Maryland Criminal Law § 3-403, armed robbery is a felony carrying up to 20 years in prison.

Using a gun during any felony or violent crime – even if the gun is unloaded – can lead to an extra charge under Maryland Criminal Law § 4-204. This law allows prosecutors to add a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The five-year minimum can’t be suspended by a judge, and parole isn’t allowed before at least five years.

Home Invasion in Maryland

Maryland has a separate felony called "home invasion." Under Maryland Criminal Law § 6-202(b), home invasion is when someone breaks into another person's home with the intent to commit a "crime of violence."

A crime of violence includes, but is not limited to: 

• Abduction and kidnapping
• First-degree arson
• First- or second-degree assault
• Murder
• Rape
• Carjacking
• First- and second-degree sex crimes 

A conviction for home invasion allows up to 25 years in prison.

Can a Good Baltimore Criminal Defense Attorney Get Serious Charges Dropped?

A strong criminal defense attorney takes the time to investigate the allegations instead of relying on police reports. This often turns up important information, such as: 

• Witnesses who were overlooked or who share a version of events that doesn’t fit the prosecution’s story 
• Exculpatory evidence 
• Alibis
• Other people who may have committed the crime 

In our client's case, our attorney carefully reviewed the State’s evidence and then investigated further. What he found convinced him that the client had not committed the crimes. Whenever possible, a defense attorney should work to meet with prosecutors and show them that the facts don’t support their case.

Of course, every case is different. No lawyer can promise that charges will be dropped. But when someone is facing years in prison, a defense lawyer should be looking for weaknesses in the case and using them to the client’s advantage.

Can an Attorney Get Criminal Penalties Reduced if the Charges Are Not Dismissed?

A complete dismissal is the obviously best possible outcome, but it isn’t the only way a defense attorney can improve a serious criminal case.

In many cases, an attorney can challenge certain charges or negotiate a plea deal to a less serious charge. For example, getting even one firearm charge dropped can make a major difference when it comes to mandatory minimum sentencing.

Criminal Defense Chair Brian G. Thompson recently wrote an article titled What Does "Winning" a Criminal Case Really Mean?, which outlines the various methods in which our defense attorneys approach cases, and how a "victory" can be achieved beyond a
"not guilty" verdict.

Call a Baltimore, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

The Baltimore County criminal defense lawyers at Silverman Thompson always independently investigate the evidence on behalf of our clients and fight for the most favorable results in every unique case.

Call us at 410-385-2225 today to schedule a free consultation.