In Maryland, crimes are either considered felonies or misdemeanors. Traditionally, felonies are considered more serious crimes. However, both felonies and misdemeanors can carry very long sentences. 

Under Maryland law, a crime is a felony if either:

• The crime has historically been a felony under the common law (e.g., murder, manslaughter, robbery, rape, burglary, larceny, arson); OR

• The statute defining the crime says that the crime is a felony.

If a crime is not a felony, then it is a misdemeanor.

Read the case: Bowser v. State, 136 Md. 342 (Court of Appeals, 1920)