Maryland has two levels of assault charges. First-degree assault is a felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years of incarceration. This charge is reserved for the most severe situations where someone has caused serious bodily injury to someone else.
Second-degree assault is a misdemeanor and involves causing or attempting “offensive physical contact.” Don’t make the mistake of thinking a second-degree assault charge isn’t serious just because it’s a misdemeanor. You can still face a maximum sentence of 10 years for this crime.