Maryland Bicyclist Arrested for Attacking Teens

Assault can happen in a number of ways. It can happen in a domestic violence situation. It can happen between two strangers in a dark alley. It can happen in a bar or at a sporting event. It can even happen between teens and an older man over a petty disagreement.

That was what happened in Maryland on June 1. The attack, which happened in Bethesda, involved a male bicyclist angry with a group of teens. The teens—a boy and two girls—were putting up signs on a bike trail asking for justice for George Floyd. A man riding a bicycle, identified as a 60-year-old man from Kensington, pushed down the boy with his bicycle. The two girls were also involved in the attack.

The attack was videotaped and uploaded on social media. In the video, the man can be seen approaching the boy with his bicycle.The boy can be heard yelling before he is thrown to the ground. The man pushes the bicycle into the boy and the video then cuts out.

Before the video, the man was ripping the posters and pulled tape from the teens’ hands. The teens filed a report with Park Police Montgomery County Division. The police department posted details about the incident on Twitter in hopes that someone could identify the man.

Investigators received hundreds of tips. The man was arrested on June 5 and charged with three counts of second-degree assault.

Maryland Assault Charges

In Maryland, there are two main assault charges: first-degree and second-degree. There is a huge difference between the two. Second-degree assault is punishable by a $5,000 fine and 10 years in prison. First-degree assault can result in up to 25 years in prison.

So what’s the difference between the two? Technical terms. First-degree assault involves serious physical injury or the threat of such injury. It also involves assault with a weapon. What this means is that threatening to hurt someone while holding a gun can result in first-degree assault.

Second-degree assault is offensive physical contact, or the threat of such, with no weapon involved. A bar fight or road rage incident would qualify under this category of assault.

In either case, the penalties are harsh. Simply punching someone can lead to extensive jail time, so think before you act. You’ll need an aggressive lawyer to reduce your harsh penalties. Defenses may include:

• Lack of criminal intent
• Self-defense
• Coercion
• Eyewitness accounts in your defense
• Developing an alibi
• False account of events
• Accepting a plea bargain for lesser charges

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

An assault conviction can lead to fines and prison time. Even a false accusation can change your life for a long time. You need a strong defense to decrease your penalties.

If you have been accused of assault, seek legal help right away. The Columbia assault attorneys at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. will work aggressively to help you get the best outcome possible. We have two offices to serve you. We are available 24/7. Schedule a free consultation by calling (410) 774-5987 or filling out the online form.

Resource:

nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maryland-cyclist-arrested-assault-teens-posting-racial-justice-flyers-trail-n1226416

https://www.marylandlawhelp.com/can-i-face-criminal-charges-for-a-bar-fight/