Maryland Criminal Attorney Blog
When you’re facing unfounded criminal accusations, having a knowledgeable and strategic defense is essential to protecting your rights and your future. At Silverman Thompson, we recently defended a client against charges of reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct following an incident with a security guard at a Ravens game. Thanks to a thorough legal strategy and compelling courtroom advocacy, our client was fully acquitted.
The Incident in Question
During a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium in 2024, our client was approached by a stadium security guard who alleged he was using profanity and smoking: a violation of stadium policy, but not a criminal offense under Maryland law. As our client attempted to leave the area, the security guard unexpectedly grabbed his shirt to prevent him from exiting.
In the ensuing struggle, both the guard and our client lost their balance and fell down a flight of concrete stairs. Despite the dramatic incident, no arrest was made at the scene, and no charges were filed at the time.
More than three months later, the guard initiated criminal charges against our client.
Initially represented by another law firm, our client was convicted in District Court and sentenced to three days in jail. However, the consequences extended far beyond that brief incarceration. He was already on probation for a prior conviction, and this new conviction triggered a potential probation violation, placing him at risk of serving more than eight years in prison.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the client appealed his conviction to the Circuit Court and retained Senior Partner Brian Thompson to handle the criminal appeal.
Understanding Reckless Endangerment in Maryland
In Maryland, reckless endangerment is a serious offense that requires proof that the defendant recklessly engaged in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious injury to another person. The law specifically requires:
- Objectively reckless conduct, and
- Subjective awareness of the danger being ignored.
It is not enough for an injury to have occurred. The defendant’s conduct must rise to a high legal threshold to qualify as reckless endangerment.
The Core Legal Issue: Who Initiated the Physical Contact?
The pivotal issue in this case was who initiated the physical confrontation, and under what authority.
At trial, Brian Thompson’s cross-examination of the security guard revealed that she had not seen the client commit any crime before grabbing him. She had only observed him smoking and using profanity, both violations of stadium rules, but not criminal acts under Maryland law.
This admission undermined any claim that the guard’s actions were lawful.
It’s critical to understand that private security guards do not have the same authority as law enforcement officers. In this case, the guard had no legal authority to detain or touch our client, regardless of whether she believed his behavior violated stadium policy.
Put simply: she had no right to initiate physical contact.
Disproving Disorderly Conduct
The defense also dismantled the disorderly conduct charge. Through careful review of bodycam footage and witness statements, we demonstrated that our client did not disrupt public order. There was no shouting, fighting, or aggressive behavior: just a peaceful attempt to exit the stadium, interrupted by an unlawful detention.
The Verdict: Full Acquittal of Both Charges
After reviewing all the evidence and legal arguments, the Circuit Court ruled that the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof. The client was acquitted of both reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct—a decision that overturned the initial conviction and spared him a potentially lengthy prison sentence.
Know Your Rights and Choose the Right Defense
This case underscores the importance of knowing your rights and defending them. Not every accusation is valid. Not every conflict warrants criminal charges. And not every conviction is the final word.
If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges, you need an attorney who will challenge assumptions, scrutinize the evidence, and mount a thoughtful, vigorous defense.
Brian Thompson and his criminal defense team are seasoned trial lawyers with extensive experience in cases involving reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and related criminal matters throughout Maryland.
Contact Brian Thompson directly at bthompson@silvermanthompson.com or 410.659.9930 to discuss this case or how I can represent you in your criminal defense matter or criminal appeal.