Statute of Limitations for Class D / 4th 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 begin a criminal prosecution. For a Class D / 4th degree felony, Maryland’s default limitations framework is found in Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator uses this general rule as the baseline. Your key practical task is to confirm the date of the alleged offense and whether any event may toll (pause) the limitations period. Even when the underlying charge is a felony, Maryland’s SOL is often determined by the general statute unless a specific exception applies.

Limitation period

General rule (default SOL)

For most prosecutions covered by Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106, the SOL is:

• 3 years from the date the crime was committed (general/default rule)

That “3 years” timeline is the starting point for DocketMath’s calculations. If you’re working through a case file, you typically find:

• the alleged offense date (or a range of dates),
• the charging date (when the charging document was filed), and
• any information about delays or events that could suspend the SOL.

How the timeline plays out in practice

A quick way to think about it:

• If the State files charges within 3 years, the prosecution is generally timely under the default rule.
• If the State files charges after 3 years, the prosecution may be time-barred unless an exception or tolling event applies.

When offense dates are unclear or span months, you may need to decide which date anchors the analysis. For calculator use, you’ll generally enter the best-known offense date (or earliest alleged date) so the result is conservative.

Common input variables to track

Use this checklist to assemble the minimum facts needed for a limitations calculation:

If you don’t have tolling details, DocketMath will still compute the default outcome based on the 3-year period.

Key exceptions

Maryland law includes circumstances that can affect SOL calculations, including tolling (pausing) doctrines and procedural events. The jurisdiction data provided for this brief identifies the general/default 3-year period and does not include a specific Class D / 4th degree felony sub-rule. That doesn’t mean exceptions can’t exist—it means this page should treat § 5-106 as the governing baseline and adjust only when you have specific case facts that indicate an applicable exception.

Here are the kinds of issues that commonly matter when assessing SOL deadlines:

• Tolling or suspension events
  Certain events can delay running of the limitations clock. Examples in many jurisdictions include defendant unavailability or other statutory tolling triggers—however, the exact Maryland tolling mechanics must be tied to the specific statutory or factual basis in the record.
• Indictment/charging timing
  Some cases hinge on the distinction between investigation delays and the actual filing of charges. For calculator purposes, you’ll want the charging date that corresponds to initiation of prosecution under Maryland procedure.
• Offense date disputes
  If the alleged conduct occurred over a span, the “start” date of the SOL analysis may be contested. Picking the wrong anchoring date can swing the result by months—or, in edge cases, flip a timely filing into a late one.

Statute citation

The default SOL period used for this page is based on:

• Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106 — 3 years general limitations period

Source (jurisdiction data reference):

• https://codes.findlaw.com/md/courts-and-judicial-proceedings/md-code-cts-and-jud-pro-sect-5-106/?utm_source=openai

Use the calculator

You can compute the default SOL window using DocketMath: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Recommended inputs

Use these inputs in DocketMath to generate a clear, date-based result:

• Jurisdiction: Maryland (US-MD)
• Charge type / category: Class D / 4th degree felony (default rule applies)
• Offense date: enter the date the crime occurred (or the earliest alleged date if there’s a date range)
• Charging date: enter the filing date of the charging document
• Tolling/exception adjustments: if you have reliable case-specific basis for a pause, add it (only if your record supports it)

What you’ll get out

DocketMath’s calculator will typically produce:

• the SOL expiration date (offense date + 3 years under the default rule), and
• whether the charging date falls before or after that expiration date.

If your charging date is:

• On or before the computed expiration date → the filing is generally consistent with the default SOL period.
• After the computed expiration date → the filing is generally outside the default SOL window, unless a recognized tolling/exception applies based on case-specific facts.

How output changes when dates change

Even small date changes can matter in SOL analysis. Consider these scenarios:

• Move the offense date forward by 30 days → SOL expiration also moves forward by roughly the same amount.
• Move the charging date forward by 30 days → you may cross the SOL expiration boundary in a close case.
• If the alleged conduct spans multiple dates, selecting the earliest date will usually be the most conservative approach because it gives the prosecution more time; selecting the latest date may make the prosecution appear more timely.

Checklist before you trust the calculator output:

Quick workflow

1. Go to /tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Select Maryland (US-MD)
3. Use the default SOL model (3 years from Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106)
4. Enter offense date and charging date
5. Review whether the charging date is timely under the default rule
6. If results look borderline, check the case record for tolling-related details before drawing conclusions

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