A stalking arrest can have serious consequences for both your personal life and your career. Beyond the impact on your reputation, a conviction may result in significant jail time. If you have been arrested, you have important legal rights that must be protected. Failing to exercise those rights can damage your case. One of the most critical is your right to speak with a domestic violence attorney before answering questions or making statements. At Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys, our Nashville stalking lawyers defend clients accused of stalking offenses throughout Middle Tennessee.
What Constitutes Stalking in Tennessee?
Stalking under state law involves a willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested. The conduct must occur on more than one occasion and demonstrate a continuity of purpose.
Types of Stalking
Tennessee recognizes several forms of stalking based on the nature, frequency, and severity of the alleged conduct. Prosecutors assess the specific facts and any aggravating circumstances to decide which classification fits the alleged conduct:
- Physical following or surveillance
- Cyberstalking through electronic communication
- Repeated unwanted contact or messaging
- Threatening letters, gifts, or deliveries
- Monitoring through GPS or tracking devices
- Third-party contact involving family or coworkers
Our Nashville lawyers are experienced with stalking laws and associated legal cases, and we can help you build a solid defense for the charges you are facing.
Stalking Charges and Penalties in Tennessee
Penalties depend on the classification of the offense (Tennessee Code Ann. § 39-17-315), the defendant’s prior record, and whether aggravating circumstances apply. A conviction may result in incarceration, fines, protective orders, and a permanent criminal record. These are the penalities our Nasvhille stalking defense lawyers work to help you mitigate. Here are the types of stalking someone can be charged with.
Stalking
A Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and fines up to $2,500, though the charge elevates to a Class E felony if the defendant has a prior stalking conviction or is on the sex offender registry as a violent sexual offender.
Aggravated Stalking
When the conduct involves a weapon, violates a protective order, targets a minor, or places someone in reasonable fear of bodily injury or death, it becomes a Class E felony punishable by one to six years in prison and fines up to $3,000.
Especially Aggravated Stalking
When the defendant has a prior conviction for stalking the same victim or causes serious bodily injury or death, it escalates to a Class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
Why Choose Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys?
Our criminal defense firm has decades of collective experience and is led by two former district attorneys, giving our clients insight into how the prosecution builds and presents stalking cases. What our Nashville stalking attorneys offer includes:
- Former prosecutorial perspective
- Thorough review of digital evidence
- Strategic challenges to witness credibility
- Protective order defense
- Negotiation with Davidson County District Attorney’s Office
- Trial preparation at every stage
Let Our Nashville Attorneys Defend Your Reputation Against Stalking Charges
Our attorneys examine every communication, timeline, and interaction to challenge the prosecution’s version of events when warranted. Contact Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys at (615) 846-9889, or reach out online to schedule a free consultation with a Nashville stalking lawyer who can review the allegations and determine potential defense strategies for case dismissals or reduced charges.
