Maryland SCCSP: Guidelines

Old Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Manual - Appendix A

Maryland Criminal Offenses

Offense	Seriousness Category	Article/Code Section	Type of Offense	Maximum Penalty
Abduction
Child under twelve	III	27/2	Person	20 Years
Child by relative	VII	FL 9-304,7(a)(b) 304,7(c)	Person	1 Year
Arson
Attempted, property in 27/6 or 7	V	27/10(a)	Property	10 Years
Attempted, property in 27/8 or 9	VII	27/10(b)	Property	2 Years
Barn, pier, shop, church, bridge, etc.	IV	27/7	Property	20 Years
Burning cross	See Burning cross of other religious symbol
Burning goods, wares, etc., with intent to injure insurer	VII	27/9	Property	5 Years
Burning personal property of another damage under $1,000	VII	27/8(b)	Property	18 Months
Burning personal property of another damage $1,000 or more	VI	27/8(c)	Property	5 Years
Dwelling or adjoining building	III	27/6	Property	30 Years
Setting fire while perpetrating a crime	VII	27/11	Property	3 Years
Assault and/or Battery	V	CL	Person
Assault on Division of Correction/ Patuxent Inst./ jail/detention center inmate or employee	IV	27/11E	Person	Consec. No susp.
Assault w/deadly weapon	V	Federal Offense	Person
Assault with intent to
Maim, disable, etc.	III	27/386	Person	15 Years
Murder	III	27/12	Person	30 Years
Prevent lawful Apprehension	III	27/386	Person	15 Years
Rape or commit a 1st or 2nd degree sex offense	III	27/12	Person	15 Years
Rob	IV	27/12	Person	10 Years
Bad check
Obtaining property/ services under $300	VII	27/141,143(b)	Property	18 Months
Obtaining property/ services worth $300 or more	V	27/141,143(a)	Property	15 Years
Bawdy Houses and houses of ill fame	See Prostitution
Breaking and Entering
Breaking and entering dwelling house of another	VII	27/31A	Property	3 Years
Breaking and entering to place or remove equipment	See Wiretapping
Breaking and entering railroad car, etc. with intent to steal	VI	27/114	Property	10 Years
Breaking and entering storehouse, etc., of another	VII	27/31B	Property	6 Months
Breaking into railroad car or entering by force	VI	27/115	Property	10 Years
Burglary	IV	27/29,30(a),CL	Property	20 Years
Burglary with explosives	II	27/34,35	Property	40 Years
Daytime housebreaking	IV	27/30(b)	Property	10 Years
Housebreaking, statutory nighttime (burglary)	IV	27/29,30(a)	Property	20 Years
Storehouse-breaking, day/ night, with intent to commit a felony	V	27/32	Property	10 Years
Storehouse-breaking with intent to steal under $300 or stealing under $5	VII	27/33A	Property	18 Months
Storehouse-breaking/ stealing $5 or more	V	27/33A	Property	10 Years
Bribery to/by public officer	V	27/33	Property	12 Years
Burglary	See Breaking and entering
Burning	See Arson
Burning cross or other religious symbol	V	27/10A	Person	3 Years
Child abduction	See Abduction
Child abuse
Physical	IV	27/35A	Person	15 Years
Sexual	IV	27/35A	Person	15 Years
Child pornography	V	27/419A	Person	10 Years
Contempt, Criminal	VII	CL
Contraband, delivery in or out of institution
To effect escape	VI	27/122A(b)	Property	10 Years
Other than to effect escape	VI	27/122A(c)	Property	3 Years
Contributing to certain conditions of a child	VII	CJ3-831	Person	3 Years
Controlled dangerous substance- Importation into State	III	27/286A	Drug	25 Years
Controlled dangerous substance-unlawful manufacture, distribution, counterfeiting, etc.; manufacture, etc. of certain equipment for illegal use; keeping common nuisance
Non-controlled substance as a CDS	IV	27/286B	Drug	5 Years
PCP	III	27/286(a)(b)	Drug	20 Years (10 Yrs. mandatory/subsequent offense under this para.)
Schedule I-II narcotics (e.g., heroin, cocaine, dilaudid, methadone)	III	27/286(a)(b)	Drug	20 Years (10 Yrs. mandatory/subsequent offense under this para.)
Schedule I-II non-narc. & Sched. III-V CDS (e.g., amphetamines, LSD, marijuana, diazepam, valium, placidyl, methaqualine)	IV	27/286(a)(b)(3)	Drug	5 Years (2 Yrs. mandatory/subsequent offense under this para.)
Using minors for CDS distribution, etc	III	27/286C	Drug	10 Years
Controlled dangerous substance - Paraphernalia
Delivery or sale, etc. 1st offense	VII	27/287A(d)(1)	Drug	$500 Fine
Delivery or sale, subsequent offense	IV	27/287A(d)(1)	Drug	2 Years
Delivery or sale to juvenile by adult 3 or more years older	III	27/287A(d)(2)	Drug	8 Years
Unlawful Possession, etc.	V	27/287	Drug	4 Years
Use or possession with intent to use, 1st offense	VII	27/287A(c)	Drug	$500 Fine
Use or possession with intent to use, subsequent offense	V	27/287A(c)	Drug	2 Years
Controlled dangerous substance Possession, etc.
Marijuana (hashish cannabis)	VII	27/287	Drug	1 Year
Other than marijuana	V	27/287	Drug	4 Years
Controlled dangerous substance - 2nd or subsequent offense		27/293	Drug	Penalty Twice Otherwise Authorized
Credit card offense - fraud, theft, forgery
Under $300	VII	27/145	Property	18 Months
$300 or more	V	27/145	Property	15 Years
Cruelty to animals
Dogfighting	VI	27/59	Property	3 Years
Injuring a racehorse	VI	27/61	Property	3 Years
Daytime housebreaking	See Breaking and entering
Deadly weapon	See Explosives, handguns and weapons
Destroying, injuring, etc. property
Under $300	VII	27/111	Property	60 Days
$300 or more	VII	27/111	Property	3 Years
Dynamiting, etc., property	III	27/119	Property	Life/20 Years
Escape
From State pen., a jail, station house, etc.	IV	27/139(a)(1)(3)	Person	10 Years
Aid in escape	IV	27/139(c)	Person	10 Years
Explosives
Destructive explosive devices, manufacture, possession, etc.	III	27/139B	Property	20 Years
Molotov cocktail	VII	27/139A	Property	5 Years
Possession without a License	VI	38A/29,34	Property	5 Years
Unlawful manufacture or dealing	VI	38A/27,34	Property	5 Years
Extortion
By false accusation	VI	27/563	Property	2 Years
By state or local officer or employee against another employee	VI	27/562D	Property	5 Years
By state or local officer generally
Under $300	VII	27/562C	Property	6 Months
$300 or more	V	27/562C	Property	10 Years
Generally
Under $300	VII	27/562B	Property	18 Months
$300 or more	V	27/562B	Property	10 Years
Sending, etc. a threatening letter, etc.	VI	27/561	Property	10 Years
Threatening verbally	VI	27/562	Property	10 Years
Failure to appear
For a felony or pending appeal, post conviction, etc.	V	27/12B	Property	5 Years
For a misdemeanor	VII	27/12B	Property	1 Year
False alarm-fire, accident, rescue	V	27/156	Property	5 Years
False imprisonment	V	CL	Person
False statements., etc.	VII	27/150,151	Property	6 Months
		27/151A,151B	Property	1 Year
Falsely representing self as an attorney	See Fraud
Falsifying, destroying, concealing, accessing, etc., public records	See Forgery
Federal income tax evasion ^l	VII
Firearm	See Handgun
Forgery and uttering
Falsifying, destroying, concealing, accessing, etc. public records	VII	27/45A	Property	3 Years
Forgery, counterfeiting, etc.	V	27/44(a)/CL	Property	10 Years
Forgery, counterfeiting, etc. of public documents	V	27/45	Property	10 Years
Uttering, etc.	V	27/44(b)/CL	Property	10 Years
Forgery, etc. physician's prescriptions, etc.	VI	27/55	Property	2 Years
Fraud
Falsely representing self as an attorney	VII	10/33	Property	6 Months
Home improvement	VII	56/261,268	Property	6 Months
Income tax	VII	81/302	Property	1 Year
False or fraudulent return	VII	81/302	Property	1 Year
Principal = Perjury	IV	81/302(a)	Property	10 Years
Agent or Representative	VII	81/302(b)	Property	1 Year
Employer's failure to pay	VII	81/312,312A	Property	1 Year
Willful failure to furnish information	VI	81/221	Property	18 Months
Medicaid, under $500	VII	27/230B,C,D	Property	3 Years
Medicaid, $500 or more	V	27/230B,C,D	Property	5 Years
Misappropriation of funds by attorney	V	10/44	Property	5 Years
Misappropriation by fiduciaries $500 or more	V	27/132	Property	5 Years
Obtaining public assistance by fraud	VII	27/230A	Property	3 Years
Unlawfully receiving fee for advice as attorney	See "V" section for other information
Welfare perjury	VII	88A/62/CL	Property	10 Years
Gambling
Betting, wagering, etc.; pools on horses, etc.	VII	27/240	Property	1 Year
Keeping gaming table or place	VII	27/237,241	Property	1 Year
Lotteries - prohibited	VII	27/356,357,358360,361,362	Property	1 Year
Handgun
Carrying, etc., with intent to injure or kill	V	27/36B(b)(iv)	Person	5 Years
Pistols and revolvers restrictions on sale, transfer and possession	VI	27/445,446,447,447A,448	Person	3 Years
Short-barreled rifles and shotguns, unlawful poss.	VI	27/481C	Person	5 Years
Unlawful wearing, carrying, etc. 1st weapon offense	VII	27/36B(b)(i)	Person	3 Years (Mand. 90 Days if on public school)
Unlawful wearing, carrying, etc., 2nd weapon offense	III	27/36B(b)(ii)	Person	10 Years (Mand. 1 Yr., Mand 3 Yrs. if on public school)
Unlawful wearing, carrying, etc., more than 2 prior weapon offenses	III	27/36B(b)(iii)	Person	10 Years (Mand. 3 Yr., Mand 5 Yrs. if on public school)
Unlawful use in commission of felony or crime of violence, 1st offense	III	27/36B(d)(1)	Person	20 Years (Mand. 5 Years) (Prior to 7/1/82 - 15 Years Max.
Unlawful use in commission of felony or crime of violence subsequent offense	II	27/36B(d)(2)	Person	20 Years (Mand. 5 Years Consec.)
Wearing, carrying while intoxicated	VI	27/36E(l)	Person	1 Year
Hinder police officer	VI	CL	Person
Homicide by motor vehicle while intoxicated	VI	27/388A	Person	3 Years
Incest	V	27/335	Person	10 Years
Income tax fraud	See Fraud
Indecent exposure	VI	27/335A	Person	3 Years
Inhaling harmful substance	See Smelling or inhaling harmful substance
Interference, obstruction or false representation of firefighter, rescue squad member or emergency services personnel	VII	27/11D	Person	3 Years
Interfering with the rights of a mentally retarded individual	VII	HG 71102	Person	2 Years
Kidnapping	II	27/337,338	Person	30 Years
Lotteries	See Gambling
Malfeasance, misconduct in office	V	CL	Person, Property, or Drug
Maiming
Malicious injury to tongue, nose, eye, limb, etc.	III	27/385	Person	10 Years
Mayhem; tarring and feathering	III	27/384	Person	10 Years
Unlawful shooting, stabbing, assaulting, etc. with intent to maim, etc. or prevent lawful apprehension	III	27/386	Person	15 Years
Manslaughter
Involuntary	IV	27/387/CL	Person	10 Years
Voluntary	IV	27/387/CL	Person	10 Years
By automobile, etc. * The Seriousness Category was changed from a VI to a IV effective 1/12/93.	IV	27/388	Person	10 Years
Medicaid Fraud	See Fraud
Misappropriation by fiduciaries	See Fraud
Molotov cocktail	See Explosives
Motor Vehicle Offenses ²	VII	But see also Manslaughter by automobile, homicide by motor vehicle while intoxicated, and Unauthorized use
Murder
Attempted	III	CL	Person	Life or 30 Years
Felony Murder ³	I	CL	Person	Life/Death
1st Degree ³	I	27/407, 412(b),413	Person	Life/Death
2nd Degree	II	27/411,412(c)	Person	30 Years
Solicitation	II	CL	Person
Obstructing Justice	V	27/27	Person	3 Years
Pandering	VI	27/426	Person	12 Years
Perjury, welfare	See Fraud
Perjury or subornation of perjury	IV	27/438,439	Person	10 Years
Perverted sexual practices	VII	27/554	Person	10 Years
Pistol or revolver	See Handgun
Poisoning
Attempted	II	27/450	Person	10 Years
Contaminating water, food, etc.	II	27/451	Person	20 Years
Pollutants, dispersing into State waters
1st Offense	VII	Health	Property	1 Year
Subsequent offense	VII	Environmental	Property	2 Years
Falsification	VII	9-322,343	Property	6 Months
Prescription drugs - manufacture, distribute, etc,; obtain by fraud, etc., forge, etc. label	VI	27/300(a)-(h)	Drug	2 Years
Property, destruction	See Destroying Property
Prostitution, keeping, etc.
Bawdy houses and houses of ill fame	VI	27/15,17	Property	1 Year
Solicitation, etc.	VII	27/15,17	Property	1 Year
Public assistance, obtaining by fraud	See Fraud, Welfare perjury
Rape
1st Degree	I	27/462/CL	Person	Life
2nd Degree	II	27/463	Person	20 Years
Resisting arrest	VI	CL	Person
Rioting	IV	CL	Person
Rogue and vagabond	VII	27/490	Property	3 Years
Robbery	IV	27/486/CL	Person	10 Years
Robbery with a deadly weapon	III	27/488/CL	Person	20 Years
Sabotage
Sabotage	V	27/536,537	Property	10 Years
Attempted	VI	27/538	Property	5 Years
Serial numbers, removing, etc.	VII	27/389	Property	1 Year
Sex offense
1st Degree	I	27/464	Person	Life
2nd Degree	II	27/464A	Person	20 Years
3rd Degree	V	27/464B	Person	10 Years
4th Degree	VII	27/464C	Person	1 Year
Short-barreled rifles and shotguns	See Handgun
Smelling or Inhaling Harmful Substances
Smelling or inhaling harmful substances	VII	27/301	Drug	6 Months
Involving minors	VII	27/301A	Drug	18 Months
Subsequent Offense	VII	27/301A	Drug	3 Years
Sodomy	V	27/553	Person	10 Years
Solicitation for prostitution	See Prostitution
Storehouse breaking	See Breaking and Entering
Telephone, unlawful use	VII	27/555A	Property	3 Years
Theft ⁴
Under $300	VII	27/342(f)(2)	Property	18 Months
$300 or more	V	27/342(f)(1)	Property	15 Years
Threatening letter, sending, etc.	See Extortion
Traffic Offenses ²	VII
Unauthorized use of livestock, vehicle, etc.	V	27/349	Property	4 Years
Unnatural & perverted sexual practices	See Perverted sexual practices
Uttering	See Forgery and uttering
Weapons	See also Explosives and Handguns
Carrying openly with intent to injure	VII	27/36	Person	3 Years
Carrying, or wearing concealed, etc.	VII	27/36	Person	3 Years
Carrying or possessing Deadly weapon on school property	VI	27/36A	Person	3 Years
Welfare fraud	See Fraud
Welfare perjury	See Fraud
Wiretapping
Breaking and entering to place or remove equipment	V	CJ10-412	Property	10 Years
Unlawful interception of communications	V	CJI0-402	Property	5 Years
Wires and conduits, unauthorized connections, etc.	VII	27/194	Property	6 Months

¹ This offense is not covered by guidelines and does not require the submission of a worksheet. It is listed here for purposes of computing Adult Prior Criminal Record only.

² All those punishable by terms of incarceration. See Title 271101105 of the Transportation Article of the Code of Maryland.

³ First Degree Murder is listed in Seriousness Category I, and offense and offender scores should be computed, but the guidelines sentence for First Degree Murder is always life, unless Article 27/413 (Death Penalty) is invoked.

⁴ In 1978, a comprehensive theft statute replaced the previously separate designation of offenses such as Larcency, Larcency by Trick, Larceny after Trust. Embezzlement, False Pretenses, Shoplifting, and Receiving Stolen Goods. For purposes of guidelines, the old offenses should be considered "Theft under $300" if they were misdemeanors and "Theft $300 or More" if they were felonies.