Howard County Criminal Lawyer: Defense in Columbia & Ellicott City
If you are facing criminal charges in Howard County, the lawyer you choose matters as much as the facts. FrizWoods keeps an office in Columbia and appears regularly in the Howard County courts in Ellicott City. Max Frizalone is a former prosecutor and a Super Lawyers Rising Stars selection. Luke Woods is a former Army JAG officer and supervising public defender with more than 20 years of trial experience. Criminal and DUI defense is the only thing we do.
Howard County prosecutors take a hard line on repeat offenses, guns, and impaired driving. The right defense attorney can be the difference between a dismissal and a conviction. We know the county's judges and prosecutors, and we prepare every case for trial.
Call us 24/7 at (877) 343-1031 or use our contact form for a free consultation.
Start here: Howard County DUI lawyer | Howard County assault lawyer | Howard County gun lawyer | Howard County District Court guide | Just arrested in Howard County | Bail someone out in Howard County
Meet Your Howard County Defense Team
Max Frizalone
Founding partner of FrizWoods LLC known for courtroom-first strategy and client-focused advocacy.
- Former Prince George's County State's Attorney and Maryland Public Defender.
- Handled serious cases including carjackings, attempted murder, armed robbery, and violent felonies.
- A thoroughly reviewed criminal lawyer with a track record of trial wins in high-stakes felony and misdemeanor cases.
Luke Woods
Veteran trial attorney with decades of criminal defense experience across Maryland courts.
- Over 20 years of experience in Maryland criminal courts
- Handled thousands of cases and 100+ trials.
- Extensive motion practice, jury/bench trials, and complex felony litigation.
Max and Luke formed FrizWoods to deliver personalized, collaborative criminal defense. Unlike one-person operations, both attorneys work your case. Their combined experience as public defenders and a prosecutor gives you both sides of the courtroom in one team. See our case results and client reviews.
How Criminal Cases Work in Howard County
Howard County shares District 10 with Carroll County, and both of its courthouses sit in Ellicott City:
- District Court of Maryland for Howard County hears misdemeanors such as second degree assault, theft under $1,500, drug possession, and most DUI cases. Our Howard County District Court guide covers the courthouse, the judges, and what to expect at your first appearance.
- Circuit Court for Howard County, also in Ellicott City, handles felonies, including first degree assault and serious gun charges, and cases where you request a jury trial.
Arrests are typically made by the Howard County Police Department or the Maryland State Police. Defendants who are held go to the Howard County Detention Center in Jessup, where bail reviews usually happen within 24 hours. If a loved one is being held, we can appear at a bail review hearing fast. Our guide on how to bail someone out in Howard County covers the process step by step.
Why Choose FrizWoods in Howard County
Local office in Columbia
Our office on Woodside Court is minutes from the Ellicott City courthouses, and we appear in the Howard County courts regularly.
Former prosecutor insight
Max built cases for the State before he started taking them apart. We know how prosecutors charge and negotiate.
Criminal defense only
No car accidents, no wills. Both partners practice criminal and DUI defense exclusively.
Trial-ready from day one
Prosecutors price offers based on whether a firm will actually try the case. We pick juries and try felonies in the Circuit Court in Ellicott City.
Fast action after arrest
Bail reviews at the Jessup detention center happen quickly. The earlier we are involved, the more options stay open. See arrested in Howard County.
Two-attorney team
Both Max and Luke work your case. Two sets of trial experience, one flat fee.
Record protection focus
We fight for dismissals, STET, and probation before judgment outcomes that preserve expungement eligibility.
24/7 attorney line
Call (877) 343-1031 any hour after an arrest, a summons, or a no-bond hold. You talk to a lawyer, not a call center.
What We Defend in Howard County
DUI and DWI
First offenses, repeat charges, and the separate MVA hearing on your license. See Howard County DUI lawyer and our Maryland DUI hub.
Assault and domestic violence
Second degree, first degree, and domestic assault. See Howard County assault lawyer and our Howard assault charges guide.
Drug charges
CDS possession and possession with intent to distribute. See our drug charges hub.
Gun and firearm offenses
Wear, carry, and transport, felon in possession, and ghost gun cases. See Howard County gun lawyer.
Theft and property
Shoplifting, felony theft, burglary, and fraud cases in District and Circuit Court.
Felonies
Serious charges that move to Circuit Court and demand jury trial preparation. See our Howard County felony guide and felony defense.
Traffic and driving offenses
Driving suspended, reckless driving, and payable tickets that carry points. See our traffic defense hub.
Juvenile cases
DJS intake, detention hearings, and charges against minors. See juvenile defense.
Probation violations
Violation of probation hearings and warrant recalls before they turn into a hold.
Our Howard County Office
Columbia Office
6304 Woodside Court, Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: (410) 346-9384
Minutes from the District and Circuit Courts in Ellicott City. Available by appointment.
Communities We Serve in Howard County
Columbia Area
- Columbia
- Clarksville and Fulton
- Savage and Scaggsville
Ellicott City Area
- Ellicott City
- Elkridge and Jessup
- Catonsville line and Route 40 corridor
Western Howard
- Glenelg and Glenwood
- West Friendship and Cooksville
- Woodbine and Dayton
Frequently Asked Questions for a Howard County Criminal Lawyer
Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor in Howard County?
Yes. Misdemeanors can carry real jail time. Second degree assault alone carries up to 10 years, and a conviction stays on your record unless you later qualify for expungement.
Can my charges be dismissed?
Often, yes. We look first at the legality of the stop, search, and any statements, then at the strength of the State's evidence. Suppressing key evidence can end a case.
Where will my case be heard?
Almost all Howard County cases are heard in Ellicott City. Misdemeanors start in the District Court of Maryland for Howard County, and felonies and jury trials move to the Circuit Court for Howard County. Our District Court guide explains the process.
My loved one is at the detention center in Jessup. What happens next?
Defendants held at the Howard County Detention Center typically get a bail review within 24 hours. Having a lawyer at that hearing matters. Our guide on bailing someone out in Howard County walks through the commissioner, the bail review, and what to bring.
How much does a criminal lawyer in Howard County cost?
Most cases are billed as a flat fee that depends on the charge and complexity. We quote it at your free consultation and offer payment plans.
Do you handle DUI cases in Howard County?
Yes, DUI defense is one of our core practices in the county, including the separate MVA hearing on your license. Start with our Howard County DUI lawyer page and our Maryland DUI hub.
Howard County Defense Resources
After an Arrest
DUI in Howard County
Charges We Defend
Talk to a Howard County Criminal Lawyer
Howard County cases move fast, and the way the Ellicott City courts handle your charge shapes everything that follows. Talk to lawyers who appear in those courts regularly. The first call is free.
Call 24/7: (877) 343-1031