Legal Services & Lawyers

I will represent you as though you are a member of my family and I will treat you with the respect that I would want for myself.

I will listen to you and make every effort to understand your problem.

I will prepare you for court from the first moment we speak. I will tell you what you need to know before you need to know it so that you are ready for trial and ready to present yourself as a responsible person before the court.

I will use my experience for you. You get a lawyer who is qualified by public service as an assistant district attorney, an assistant attorney general and as an inspector general. Judges, prosecutors, juries, witnesses and police officers listen to me.

I will use my education for you. You get a lawyer who knows the law and the rules. I have two law degrees and I have taught law. I also have advanced training through continuing legal education programs and I have taught such programs as well.

I have been trained by the Harvard Negotiation Project. You get a lawyer who knows when to negotiate and when to fight.

Your financial situation is important. You get a lawyer who will listen to your concerns about legal fees and help you structure a payment plan that is fair to both of us.

Mr. McManus has been practicing law for twenty years, and for the past ten years he has been a partner at the firm. He began his career as a law clerk for Judge Joseph Mattingly in St. Mary's County Maryland and then worked as a prosecutor in both St. Mary's and Prince George's County. His more noteworthy criminal cases include:

* In 1985, Michael John Desasrno was convicted of sexual child abuse for acts committed by the former highschool wrestling coach while acting in the capacity as a wrestling coach.

* In 1987, Mr. McManus successfully prosecuted Willie Horton for beating and raping an Oxon Hill woman. The case received national media attention in the 1988 presidential election between George Bush and Michael Dukakis. Willie Horton, serving a life sentence for murder, escaped from a Massachusetts prison furlough program to commit the rape, while Mr. Dukakis was governor of the state.

* In 1988, Mr. McManus convicted a trucker for Motor Vehicle manslaughter in the 1986 deaths of two highschool girls in Riverdale. A truck with 18 safety defects carrying hot asphalt stalled at the top of a hill and rolled into a car occupied by three highschool girls. One was severely injured and the other two died when nearly 14,000 pounds of hot asphalt was dumped on the car.

Mr. McManus has developed a reputation as one of the premier personal injury attorneys in Southern Maryland. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a number of major truck accident cases, and developed a specialty in negotiating complex personal injury settlements. Mr. McManus has lectured, along side several judges, at multiple personal injury seminars for lawyers. An 'AV' rated attorney, he is a member of the American Bar Foundation, the Maryland State Bar Foundation, the Governor's Trial Courts Nominating Commission, and has chaired or co-chaired the local bar's Tort Law Sub-Committee for the past seven years.

Law Offices of Ross D. Hecht, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland provides professional and dedicated legal services in Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation, Civil and Criminal Appellate Practice, Personal Injury, Business Law, Creditors Bankruptcy Practice, Probation Revocation, Sealing Records,Traffic Violations, and DUI / DWI Defenses.


Attorney Ross Hecht is actively admitted and licensed to practice law in all Courts of the State of Maryland and in the District of Columbia. His primary area of expertise is Litigation. He is experienced in all areas of criminal defense and trial work, both at the misdemeanor and felony levels to state and federal appellate level.


Law Offices also handles Juvenile Court Cases, Extradition Matters, in addition to Last Wills and Testaments, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney

A letter from James E. Crawford Jr.:

One of the least things I enjoy doing is writing about myself. That is probably true about most of us. However, I thought it was important to convey a little about the lawyer and person you want to represent you.

I have been practicing law since 1992. I completed my undergraduate college degree in 1985 at Frostburg State College, Master of Arts at University of Baltimore in 1987 and Juris Doctor Degree in 1992 at University of Baltimore School of Law.

I am a member of the Maryland Bar Association, Baltimore County Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, various other Bar Associations, various committees for Judicial Elections and other Legal Associations. I was elected a member of the Maryland Democratic State Central Committee and have been interested in politics for many years. I have handled many high profile Maryland Political races and have worked with many high profile political figures.

As an attorney I have handled literally thousands of cases throughout the years. Many of them high profile as well as the standard run of the mill type cases. I practice in all Maryland Counties, all District Courts, Circuit Courts and Federal Courts. Quite frankly there isn't a Courtroom in the State of Maryland that I haven't been in.

When I decided to build this web site I was asked to write and describe a little about myself. I had to stop and think about the qualities that I possess and why I have been so successful practicing law all these years. In other words what makes me the type of lawyer and person that you would want to represent you. Why do clients continue to come back and why is the majority of my practice referrals from other clients that are very satisfied with the out come of their cases. Without being too forthright, probably the most desirous quality that I have is the fact that I really care about the outcome of my client's case and their well being. I believe that it is really important for a lawyer to strive and to do their best for a client in every way possible. Frankly, I think my profession has lost its way in that regard somewhat. There are still a lot of good lawyers out there, but I think a lot of people don't look at lawyers the way they used to. I also believe it is very important for a lawyer to represent a client with all their ability and skill. It is my duty to stand between you and the police and to convince a judge or a jury that a particular out come is best for you. I still believe practicing law is a noble cause and justifies using all my energy and skills to represent a client.

I am a trial lawyer, plain and simple. I am in Court just about every day of my working life. I have handled thousands of cases and I am very familiar with the Courthouse and Courthouse personnel. That is why I have been so successful, because I have been there many times.

Ok, a little about myself. I grew up in Baltimore, attended Mount St. Joseph High School. I am married and have four (4) great children. I have always been involved in the community by coaching sports for kids and being involved with other charities. I have also always played and loved sports, especially basketball and baseball. My favorite music is by The Whoâ. I think Ive always identified with their music because of the underdog theme that seems to run throughout their songs. Its fitting for me because thats how I feel about my clients. Most people come to me when they are at one of the lowest points in their life, either they have been charged with a crime, or they have some other crisis in their life. They feel like the whole world is against them. My job as a trial lawyer is to stand next to you in your time of need and get the job done. That is part of my basic personality and nature.

Ive learned that the practice of law really has no end. In other words a good lawyer will admit that there are always new things to learn, not just about his clients and the law, but also about trying to find ways to resolve complex situations. My experience and knowledge is a result of many years of tilling the fields of law. If you need help call my office and lets discuss it.

Very truly yours,

JIM CRAWFORD, JR.

I am a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and practice Criminal Defense law in the Federal and State Courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. I am a very proud graduate of the University of Maryland and University of Baltimore Law School. I have been honored in 2009 to serve as Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association Criminal Law Section Council and to previously have served as President of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Association. I am also serving my second 4 year term as the Criminal Defense representative on the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy appointed by Governor O'Malley. (www.msccsp.org). In nearly 25 years of practice now, I have handled a wide range of different types of cases including approximately 50 homicides cases, complex Federal drug and white collar type cases, and nearly every other type of criminal and traffic case. I am also widely known as an expert in asset forfeiture matters.

John Lund Keller; born in New London, Connecticut on January 23, 1952; graduated from Central High School in Seat Pleasant, Maryland in 1970; graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia in 1974 (Phi Beta Kappa); graduated from Paul M. Hebert School of Law at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1977; clerk for Gary S. Gasparovic in Bryans Road, Maryland from 1975, 1976-1977 and then associate from 1978-1981; admitted to practice of law In Maryland in 1978 and in Washington, D.C. in 1981;married Cecelia Ann Coon on August 8, 1981; elected to Charles County Board of Education (1986-1990); former Trust Clerk for Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland; treasurer-secretary (1995-1996), vice president (1996-1997), president (1997-1998) of Charles County Bar Association; a standing examiner of the Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland (1998-present)

Sheila F. Fleshman is a partner at the firm of Sasscer, Clagett & Bucher. Ms. Fleshman's areas of practice focus primarily in litigation in the field of personal injury, including wrongful death, premises liability, and contractual matters.

Ms. Fleshman, who has lived in Prince George's County most of her adult life, developed her skills as an Assistant State's Attorney for several years by prosecuting a multitude of cases on behalf of the State of Maryland including homicides and other cases where individuals in the community were victims of violent crimes. During that time, Ms. Fleshman's accomplishments as a trial lawyer earned her an Honorary Governor's citation for her work as an Assistant State's Attorney.

Ms. Fleshman is an active litigator with over 20 years of experience. She strives to provide knowledgeable, caring and aggressive representation for her clients. Since Ms. Fleshman joined the firm of Sasscer, Clagett & Bucher in 1995, she has focused her practice in the area of personal injury. Ms. Fleshman represents those who have been injured in automobile accidents as the result of someone else's negligence. Various insurance companies also frequently retain the services of Ms. Fleshman to represent individuals who have been sued based upon allegations of negligence brought by another. Her ability to represent both the victims of negligence as well as those individuals who require a defense attorney in a negligence action, have provided her with unique insight into the world of personal injury litigation and an opportunity to view the process from all perspectives. Others in the legal community who consider Ms. Fleshman's record of success in the courtroom impressive, frequently refer cases to her in those situations where the matter at hand requires litigation skills.

Ms. Fleshman has also received training in a Skills-Based training course in civil mediation by the Maryland Institute for Continuing Education (MICPEL). She has served as a Mediator and as an Arbitrator of disputes between various individuals, business entities, and insurance companies.

Ms. Fleshman attended Sidwell Friends High School in Washington, D.C., Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, and the George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Fleshman wholeheartedly recognizes the entitlement of all members of the community to quality legal representation regardless of social, economic, religious or racial backgrounds.