Practice Areas

Drug Crimes
Maryland law treats drug charges very seriously. If convicted of certain types of drug crimes, you can be sentenced to time in prison. Someone arrested by the local police can end up charged in the Federal system because of decisions made in private between State and Federal prosecutors.

Domestic Abuse & Battery
This crime occurs when a person intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other person or intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.

Drunk Driving (DUI) & Traffic Violations
Even if this is your first offense, the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance can be serious.

Property & Economic Crimes
Theft of property, goods, or services can occur in several forms and can be either a felony or a misdemeanor in Maryland.

Sentencing & Appeals
In recent years, much of the discretion that judges used to have in sentencing has been taken over by prosecutors and legislators. The result has been more minimum mandatory sentences as well as longer prison sentences.

Violent Crimes
Violent crimes are among the most serious crimes in Maryland. They include aggravated assault, aggravated battery, arson, kidnapping, rape, manslaughter, and murder.

Other Crimes
For more than 30 years, John Hassett has been representing individuals throughout Maryland who have been charged with committing crimes ranging from disorderly conduct to murder.