Evidence in Prince George’s County Gun Cases

Understanding the manner in which authorities may use evidence in Prince George’s County gun cases could be crucial to building a defense for firearm charges. A defendant is recommended to consult a knowledgeable criminal attorney who has experience in handling gun evidence.

How Authorities Gather Evidence

The most common types of evidence collected in Prince George’s County gun cases are the guns themselves. Authorities go about gathering evidence in several ways. If they see a gun, they typically seize it. If they feel there is a basis for a search warrant, they could get one. Once they have a gun, they are required to connect it to a person.

Fingerprints could be done and DNA usage has been on the rise. A single skin flake could remain on the gun, which could show that the person was in possession of the weapon, even if briefly. That could help establish whose gun it was or perhaps was not. Authorities could look at how the gun was found, where it was found, and anyone’s statement regarding the gun itself.

Potential Room for Interpretation

While there could be room for interpretation when it comes to
evidence in Prince George’s County gun cases, there is typically none for the definition of what constitutes a gun. If it fires, it is a gun.

Possession could be another story. A person could defend themselves by arguing the gun did not belong to them, they did not know about its presence, or that it was not used. Frequently, people may dissociate themselves from the gun even if it was found in their own residence and other people were living there. Much of this could deal with the characteristics of where, how, when, and by whom the gun was found.

A Prince George’s County Gun Attorney Could Help

How a seasoned lawyer could help a person may depend on the nature of the charges and evidence in Prince George’s County gun cases. A defendant could be charged with possession of a firearm with a nexus to a marijuana drug-trafficking crime. This could carry a five-year mandatory minimum and a sentence without parole, a separate charge of handgun possession misdemeanor with a three-year minimum, and another charge of intent to distribute marijuana, which typically carries five years maximum.

A lawyer may argue that while the defendant had a firearm, it was not related to or even in proximity to a drug so they should not be charged with possession of a firearm with a nexus to a drug-trafficking crime. Winning that part of a three-part charge could reduce the possible sentence to a much shorter time than the defendant may get. Call a lawyer today to learn your rights.