Violent Crimes Lawyer In Nashville, TN

If you have been charged with a violent crime, it is essential to know that the state takes these matters very seriously. A conviction for a violent offense can result in severe consequences affecting the rest of your life, including jail time and fines. In Tennessee, several violations fall under “violent crime.” These include assault, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and murder. In some cases, violent crimes may be charged as felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the severity of the offense and other factors.

At Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, we understand that you’re going through a difficult time and want to help you get through it as quickly and painlessly as possible. If you have been charged with a violent crime, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced violent crimes attorney near Nashville, Tennessee.

Defending Violent Crimes Charges

If you have been charged with a crime, don’t just sit back and hope for the best. You need to take action to protect yourself and your future. At Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, we are passionate about helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome in their cases. We have extensive experience in criminal defense and are always ready to put that experience to work for you.

We know that every case is different, and we will develop a personalized defense strategy based on our thorough research of your case. We can anticipate the prosecution’s moves and develop counterarguments, so you can be confident in our ability to defend you. Our founder was formerly an Assistant District Attorney with more than ten years of experience in criminal law. His experience allows him to anticipate what the prosecution will do next, which gives us a distinct advantage. He knows what they’re looking for, so he’ll be able to develop a strong defense strategy that will help you get the best possible outcome. Our team of legal professionals is ready to fight for you in any situation. Call today for a free consultation!

What is a Plea Bargain, and Should I Accept It?

A plea bargain or plea deal is an agreement between you and the prosecution to conclude your case without heading to trial. This agreement usually involves the defendant pleading no contest or guilty to all or one of the crimes they’re charged with. In exchange, the prosecution agrees to dismiss or lower some charges to less severe crimes and push for reduced or lighter penalties.

But there are drawbacks to accepting a plea deal. Besides admitting that you’re guilty of the crime you’re charged with, you may also have to forfeit your right to appeal your case and be legally obligated to cooperate with the police as part of your deal.

When deciding whether or not accepting a plea deal is the best option for you, you must consider the specific circumstances of your case. These include the seriousness of the charges, the prosecution’s evidence against you, the potential penalties you’re facing for a conviction, and the possibility of winning your case at trial.

With this in mind, it is immensely vital to weigh all these factors thoroughly. Our Nashville violent crimes lawyer will ensure you fully understand the potential long and short-term repercussions of accepting a plea deal and can negotiate the best possible deal if they determine that accepting one is the best move for you.

Will I Go to Prison or Jail?

Put simply, it depends on the specific circumstances of your case. However, prosecutors will typically consider the following factors when determining whether they should include jail or prison time in your potential sentence.

The Charge Against You: Save for some exceptions, a misdemeanor charge may not result in jail time. On the other hand, the chances of incarceration increase for a felony charge. In general, the more severe the crime, the higher the chances of imprisonment.
Your Criminal History: Are you a repeat offender? Have you been convicted of several offenses? What offenses were you convicted for? Were they violent or non-violent offenses? All these will play a role in determining whether you go to prison.
The Specific Nature of The Crime You’re Charged With: Prosecutors usually seek prison time for defendants whose crimes involve harm to another person, including assault offenses, burglary, robbery, and sex offenses.
The Strength of The Case Against You: The stronger the case and evidence against you, the more leverage the prosecution has to incorporate incarceration into your potential sentence. This is where the experience of a Nashville violent crimes lawyer is They can cast doubt on the prosecution’s case to reduce their confidence in winning a trial and, consequently, reduce the possibility of imprisonment.
The Possibility of Alternative Sentencing: If you are eligible for alternative sentencing options, such as probation, pretrial diversion, or judicial diversion, among others, our Nashville violent crimes lawyer will argue that this is the best option for you.

At Andrew Beasley, PLLC, our Nashville violent crimes lawyer will help you understand all the legal options available to you to determine your chances of getting incarcerated and the steps we can take to reduce your potential penalties and related consequences.

Violent Crimes FAQs

What Are Violent Crimes In Nashville, TN?

Chapter 13 of Title 39 of the Tennessee Annotated Code lists several offenses against persons considered violent crimes. They fall into various categories, including but not limited to assault, homicide, and sexual crimes. Although the specific elements of each differ, at their core, they all involve conduct that causes or could cause injury to another person.

Below is a more in-depth review of examples of violent crimes in Tennessee:

ASSAULT: Assault occurs when a person causes bodily injury to another, makes an individual fear that they are in imminent danger of injury, or makes extremely offensive or provocative physical contact (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101).
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: According to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102, a person can be charged with aggravated assault if they commit assault that resulted in serious bodily injury or death to another, involved strangulation, or used a deadly weapon.
INTIMIDATION A person can commit force under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-309 in several ways. These include harming or threatening someone who has exercised a civil right, damaging or destroying the property of someone who has exercised a civil right, or preventing them from doing so.
INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE: This offense involves forcing another person to engage in labor or services. Methods used to make a person submit causing or threatening to cause bodily harm, physically restraining the other person, confiscating the individual's government identification documents, or using threats or violence (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-307).
KIDNAPPING: A person may be charged with kidnapping under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-303 if they move or confine another individual and restrict their liberties in a way that places the victim at risk of bodily injury. The offense may be charged as aggravated kidnapping under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-304 if the defendant committed it to facilitate or flee from a felony or interfere with government business, to cause serious bodily injury or terrorize another, if the victim suffered physical injury, or if the defendant had or threatened to use a deadly weapon.
MANSLAUGHTER: Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-211, a person commits manslaughter when they cause the death of another after being provoked to the point that they behave irrationally. The individual may have had the intent to kill, but unlike murder, the act was not planned.
MURDER: This crime involves the unlawful killing of another. Tennessee separates it into first- and second-degree offenses. First-degree murder (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202) occurs when someone plans the act, causes another's death while engaged in a separate felony, or commits the offense by throwing or discharging a bomb. Second-degree murder (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-210) is committed when someone knowingly kills another or distributes a drug that causes another person to die.
RAPE: Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-503, rape occurs when someone engages in unlawful sexual penetration through force, fraud, or coercion, when the victim does not consent, or when the defendant knows that the victim is mentally defective or incapacitated, or physically helpless. Under Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-13-502, rape is an aggravated offense when the defendant was armed with a deadly weapon, caused bodily injury to the victim, or committed the act with one or more others.
SEXUAL BATTERY: This offense involves unlawful sexual contact committed through the use of force, fraud, or coercion when the victim did not consent or when the victim is mentally incapacitated or defective or physically helpless (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-505).
STALKING: Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-315, this offense occurs when, on two or more occasions, someone harasses another person, causing them to feel terrorized, threatened, intimidated, or frightened.
STATUTORY RAPE: An adult commits statutory rape under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-506 when they have unlawful sex with a minor under 17 but at least 13 years of age.

A charge for any of the offenses listed above is serious. You need a staunch and zealous Nashville violent crime attorney fighting for you if you face accusations. Our team can deliver the dedicated defense you need with a free case review.

What Are the Penalties For A TN Violent Crime Charge?

The criminal sanctions imposed upon a violent crime conviction depend on the conduct involved. Charges and penalties for violent crimes include the following:

CLASS B MISDEMEANOR: Up to 6 months of incarceration and/or up to $500 in fines. Example of offenses: assault involving extraordinarily offensive or provocative contact.
CLASS A MISDEMEANOR: Up to 11 months, 29 days of incarceration, and/or up to $2,500 in fines. Examples of offenses: assault causing injury or causing another to fear injury, stalking.
CLASS E FELONY: 1 to 6 years of imprisonment, up to $3,000 in fines. Examples of offenses: sexual battery, statutory rape.
CLASS D FELONY:2 to 12 years of imprisonment and/or up to $5,000 in fines. Examples of offenses: aggravated assault where the defendant acted recklessly, intimidation.
CLASS C FELONY: 3 to 15 years of imprisonment and/or up to $10,000 in fines. Examples of offenses: aggravated assault where the defendant acted knowingly or intentionally, voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, involuntary servitude.
CLASS B FELONY: 8 to 30 years of imprisonment and/or up to $25,000 in fines. Examples of offenses: aggravated kidnapping, rape, aggravated sexual battery.
CLASS A FELONY: 15 to 60 years of imprisonment, up to $50,000 in fines. Examples of offenses: second-degree murder, aggravated rape.

First-degree murder is a felony in Tennessee, but it is not classified as any of the offenses listed above. A conviction can result in the death penalty, life imprisonment without parole, or life imprisonment. The stakes are high in any violent crime matter. Your personal and professional relationships, finances, and entire future are on the line. You need a fierce Nashville crime lawyer ready to do what it takes to protect your rights. The team at Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, is prepared to exhaust our resources and explore every legal option to work toward obtaining the best possible result.