Posted on August 06, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Although panhandling (asking the public for money or other assistance) is usually associated with homelessness, most people are surprised to find that national estimates conclude that less than 20 percent of the homeless population engage in panhandling. Panhandling typically yields between $20 and $60 per day. Most panhandlers face barriers to "traditional" work in the form of physical disability, lack of skills, or mental illness, and many struggle with substance abuse.

While panhandling is not typically illegal in Tennessee, when coupled with certain types of aggressive behaviors, it can become a criminal offense. Unfortunately, in some cases, these behaviors may be exaggerated or misconstrued by the person reporting the crime. While there are certainly more serious criminal offenses in Tennessee, if you have been charged with aggressive panhandling, consulting a knowledgeable Blaine, TN criminal defense lawyer can be important to help keep the offense off your criminal record and minimize penalties.  

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 Posted on July 29, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Recently, multiple criminal warrants were issued against an inmate in the Davidson County jail for allegedly sending threatening letters to four Nashville judges. The man has been in jail since last October on charges related to probation violations of felony assault and burglary convictions. The man allegedly made threats against the judges for decisions made when he was a defendant appearing before them.

The charge of making harassing threats in the 17 letters sent to the judges is a Class A misdemeanor, although in some cases it can be charged as a felony. Some of the letters not only threatened harm to the judges and their family members, but also to the President. In Tennessee, under Tennessee Code Section 39-17-308, sending a threatening letter may be classified as harassment, especially if the letter contains a threat of unlawful action and the sender intends to annoy or alarm the recipient.

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 Posted on July 15, 2025 in Criminal Defense

In 2025, the state of Tennessee introduced more aggressive enhanced hate crime laws. These laws are linked to the Protecting Everyone Against Crime and Extremism (PEACE) Act. The goal of the updates is to close any current gaps in Tennessee criminal laws by targeting vandalism, intimidation, and harassment – crimes that traditionally escape prosecution under the felony-only hate crime standards.

The updates make these crimes prosecutable as misdemeanors and are intended to send a message: intolerance and misconduct resulting from bias, even when no bodily harm is caused, will no longer be tolerated. Tennessee previously limited hate crime enhancements to felonies, leaving misdemeanors unaddressed, thus creating a void for bias and hate-motivated vandalism, harassment, threats, and property damage.

The PEACE Act (HB 55/SB 30) further adds misdemeanors for "hate littering," which includes banner hanging, intimidating flyers, and box-truck transportation of hate group members. The goal is to curb increasingly brazen acts by extremists, including neo-Nazis. If you are facing a misdemeanor hate crime enhancement, it is important that you consult with an experienced Farragut, TN criminal defense attorney.

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 Posted on July 07, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Although evidence is the foundation of any criminal prosecution, not all evidence is admissible in court. There are rules that exist in Tennessee – and in every state – to ensure that evidence is gathered by law enforcement in a legal, fair manner. When those rules are violated, a criminal defense attorney can challenge the evidence, potentially having it excluded from the case entirely.

This is known as suppression of evidence and can often make or break a criminal charge. If you are facing criminal charges in Tennessee, it is crucial that you have a strong legal advocate on your side. An experienced Dandridge, TN criminal defense lawyer can expose any evidence that has flaws, inaccuracies, or inconsistencies while ensuring you are treated fairly and your rights are protected throughout the legal process.  

The Basics of Evidence Suppression in Tennessee

"Throwing out evidence" means that a judge has ruled that specific evidence presented in a criminal court case cannot be considered by the judge or jury during the trial. This can happen for many different reasons, but when the court deems evidence inadmissible, it cannot be introduced in court.

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 Posted on June 27, 2025 in Domestic Violence

If you are charged with felony aggravated domestic assault – or, in some cases, even simple domestic assault – you may face more than just court dates and legal fees. There is a strong chance that you will be ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device under relatively new Tennessee laws.

For many defendants, this requirement can come as a surprise, bringing serious implications for privacy, freedom of movement, and daily life. What does it mean for you, legally and practically, when navigating domestic assault charges and convictions? Help is available for you when you speak to an experienced Knoxville, TN criminal defense lawyer.  

When is GPS Monitoring Required?

As of a year ago, those arrested for aggravated domestic violence in the state of Tennessee were required to wear a GPS monitoring device until their court dates. The bill passed with bipartisan support, requiring that victims be notified when their abuser is within a certain distance. The measure was named for a mother and daughter who were murdered in 2021 by the mother’s husband, who had a prior arrest for strangling his wife until she lost consciousness.  

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 Posted on June 20, 2025 in Civil Rights

Across the nation, today’s challenges - including the rising cost of attending college, racial injustice, and international wars - have led to a resurgence of student activism. Universities are large enough to matter but small enough for protests actually to have an influence on. Furthermore, there are opportunities to organize on college campuses that are less common in off-campus communities.

In 2024, at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, 11 students were arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration. All 11 were charged with trespassing and released without bail, although two students recently filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee trustees, and UT System President Randy Boyd, citing civil rights violations.

If your son or daughter has been arrested for an on-campus protest, the very best step you can take to safeguard his or her future is to speak to a Knoxville, TN civil rights attorney who also has extensive experience in criminal offenses committed by college students.

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 Posted on June 10, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Conspiracy to commit a criminal offense can be almost as serious as the underlying crime. A conviction for felony conspiracy charges can harm your current life and your future. Because the consequences of a conspiracy conviction are so severe, it is important that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible.

Your attorney can gather and preserve favorable evidence, interview witnesses, and ensure that valuable evidence is not lost. The outcome of criminal charges can sometimes be determined quickly after an arrest when you have skilled legal representation. Do not wait – if you are being questioned in relation to a crime or have been charged with a criminal offense, a Farragut, TN criminal defense lawyer can ensure you have the best chance of a positive outcome.   

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 Posted on May 23, 2025 in University of Tennessee Knoxville College Students

On March 18, 2025, a student at the University of Tennessee was arrested for slashing vehicle tires on campus. The young woman was charged with one count of felony vandalism, with additional charges pending. More than 40 vehicles were allegedly vandalized across the campus. The woman was taken to Knox County Detention Center for booking, where she mentioned to police that she had not taken her medication for mental health and "blacked out."  

Any felony charge is serious, perhaps even more so for a college student, as a felony conviction could adversely impact student loans, employment, and much more. If you are a University of Tennessee college student facing serious criminal charges – or the parent of a college student facing serious criminal charges – speaking to a Rutledge, TN criminal defense lawyer is advised.  

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 Posted on May 15, 2025 in Civil Rights

Members of the Tennessee House voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would transfer the investigation of discrimination complaints to the Attorney General, dissolving the Tennessee Human Rights Commission in the process. The Human Rights Commission is a nonpartisan, independent agency that has existed in the state for six decades.

The agency is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in public accommodations, housing, and employment, and for investigating discrimination claims against the state of Tennessee. The Commission has 33 staff members, including investigators, attorneys, and other support personnel, and ensures that the state complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.  

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 Posted on May 08, 2025 in Criminal Defense

A Nashville jury recently took less than one hour to find a 73-year-old woman guilty in the 2023 murder of her husband. At the time the woman was arrested, she told police she shot her husband because he cheated on her. She received an automatic sentence of life in prison upon her conviction. One of the jurors was later asked whether a person in his or her 70s should spend their last days in prison.

While the question is a valid one, most states make no distinction regarding age when sentencing a person to life in prison, although some states do offer "compassionate release" for elderly prisoners who are terminally ill. Some states, like Tennessee, have mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent crimes, although Tennessee also recently introduced a bill regarding sentence reduction "credits."

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