Statute of Limitations for Class C / 3rd Degree Felony in Maryland

Overview

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

In Maryland, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the State to file a criminal charge. For a Class C / 3rd degree felony, you generally start with Maryland’s default limitations period in the criminal limitations statute.

For this category, you should not assume there is a special, offense-specific SOL rule. Based on the available jurisdiction data, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found, so the discussion below uses Maryland’s general/default limitations period.

If you’re using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator, the goal is to model how the SOL deadline moves based on key dates and any tolling or exception inputs you select.

Limitation period

General rule: 3 years for the default felony SOL

Maryland’s general criminal limitations statute provides a 3-year limitations period for covered offenses.

General SOL Period: 3 years
General Statute: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106

Because the jurisdiction data does not identify a special sub-rule for “Class C / 3rd degree felony,” treat this as the baseline deadline:

• Start point (typical): the date of the offense or when the offense is deemed to have occurred under Maryland’s general limitations framework.
• Deadline (baseline): 3 years from that start point, absent an exception or tolling event.

Practical way to think about the deadline

A simple timeline helps:

• Day 0: alleged offense date (or legally relevant occurrence date)
• Day 0 + 3 years: general SOL expires
• After expiration: prosecution is generally time-barred unless an exception/tolling applies

What changes the output in DocketMath?

When you run DocketMath’s /tools/statute-of-limitations tool, your output typically changes when you account for:

• The offense date (changes when the 3-year clock starts)
• Any tolling/exception flags (changes when the deadline extends or pauses)
• The charge date (lets you compare “filed by” versus “deadline by”)

Use the calculator to convert those inputs into a concrete “file by” date.

Key exceptions

Even when the general SOL is 3 years, Maryland law can recognize circumstances that delay, pause, or extend the limitations period. The exact availability of exceptions depends on the facts and procedural posture of the case.

Because you asked for statute-of-limitations guidance tied to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106 (and no additional claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified in the provided jurisdiction data), the safest way to approach exceptions is through the calculator’s structured options and a careful review of the statute’s operative terms.

Common exception categories to look for (conceptual)

When you’re modeling SOL outcomes, check whether any of these categories appear in your fact pattern:

• Tolling for specified events (events that legally stop or extend the running of the clock)
• Defendant-related concealment or unavailability (some jurisdictions treat certain periods differently)
• Procedural delays that may legally affect the SOL computation under the statute

Checklist: inputs to confirm before trusting an SOL deadline

What to do if you’re unsure about exceptions

DocketMath is designed to help you model outcomes. If you’re missing facts that would support an exception, treat the calculator result as a baseline estimate rather than a definitive legal conclusion. (A qualified lawyer can analyze the full record, but you can still use DocketMath to sanity-check the timeline.)

Statute citation

The controlling general limitations rule referenced in your Maryland jurisdiction data is:

• Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106
  General SOL Period: 3 years

For Class C / 3rd degree felony analysis using the provided data, the key point is that the 3-year general/default period applies unless an exception recognized by the statute (or a legally relevant tolling rule) affects the timing.

Use the calculator

You can run an SOL timeline with DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Here’s how to use it efficiently for a Maryland Class C / 3rd degree felony (default SOL = 3 years):

Suggested inputs to enter

1. Jurisdiction: Maryland (US-MD)
2. Offense date: the date of the alleged conduct (or the date your case record treats as the relevant offense/occurrence date)
3. Charge filing date: the date the State filed charges (if you have it)
4. Exception/tolling options: select only the items that match facts you actually have (if your workflow includes those inputs)

How outputs typically change

Use these rules of thumb when reading the result:

• If you enter an earlier offense date, the “file by” deadline moves earlier.
• If you enter a later offense date, the “file by” deadline moves later.
• If you enable a tolling/exception option that applies under the calculator’s framework, the deadline may extend beyond the baseline 3-year mark.
• If your charge filing date is after the computed deadline, the calculator result will usually indicate a potential SOL bar under the modeled assumptions.

Quick example workflow (numbers-only illustration)

• Enter an offense date of January 10, 2020
• Baseline SOL expiration (3 years) would land around January 10, 2023
• If the charge was filed after that date, the baseline model suggests time-bar risk—then you would revisit exception/tolling inputs if any apply.

If you want to compare scenarios, run multiple calculator runs while toggling only the variables that truly reflect your record.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Maryland and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison