Proactive Lebanon Assault Defense Lawyers On Your Side
Experienced criminal defense for clients in Nashville, Mt. Juliet, Cookeville, and throughout Tennessee
Maybe it was an altercation in a parking lot with the person who stole your spot. Maybe you ran your mouth a bit at the bar over the outcome of the game. Maybe someone took a step towards you and you reacted instinctively. Or maybe you struck another person intentionally with the ultimate goal of hurting them. In every single one of these scenarios, you could end up charged with assault.
When you are facing assault charges in Tennessee, you want an experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side. At Lowery, Lowery & Cherry, PLLC, we offer strong, aggressive defense strategies on behalf of clients facing misdemeanor and felony assault charges. Since 1962, our Lebanon attorneys have protected the rights of clients in Nashville, Mt. Juliet, Cookeville, and throughout Middle Tennessee. Call us today to find out how we can help with your case.
Why was I charged with assault?
Under Tennessee state law, you can be charged with assault if you:
- Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily injury to another;
- Intentionally or knowingly cause another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; or
- Intentionally or knowingly cause physical contact with another, and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative.
Simple assault is a misdemeanor charge, but do not be lulled into thinking it is not serious. An assault charge is almost always permanent and ineligible for expungement, so there is no way to have it removed from your record. Any criminal record can have an effect on future job or education opportunities, but assault convictions are especially challenging, because people often make assumptions about what they consider violent crimes.
Additional assault charges in Tennessee
Tennessee has multiple assaultive charges:
- Aggravated assault
- Domestic assault
- Vehicular assault
Some of them will be charged as misdemeanors; some will be charged as felonies. All of them can be brought by a state or federal court, depending on the circumstances. Furthermore, you may face additional fines and penalties if your assault charges are considered hate crimes, if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if you are accused of any gang-related activities.
What are the penalties for Lebanon, TN assault charges?
Depending on the exact circumstances of your case, your assault charge can be a misdemeanor or a felony. Under the law, sentencing for individuals is generally:
- Class C felony. Not less than three years nor more than 15 years in prison, and up to $10,000 in fines.
- Class D felony. Not less than two years nor more than 12 years in prison, and up to $5,000 in fines.
- Class E felony. Not less than one year nor more than six years in prison, and up to $3,000 in fines.
- Class A misdemeanor. No more than 11 months, 29 days in jail, and/or a fine up to $2,500.
- Class B misdemeanor. No more than six months in jail, and/or a fine up to $500.
You can be charged with, and found guilty of, multiple counts of assault, or face additional charges for other alleged crimes – which can all increase your fines and jail/prison time if convicted. If you are a repeat offender, you may face stricter charges, with harsher penalties, than if you are a first-time offender.
Understand, however, that the penalties do not end there. Assault is considered a crime of moral turpitude, which means you can have any professional licenses or security clearances pulled. If you are convicted of a felony, you will lose your right to carry a firearm or access public benefits, such as housing. You could be denied a new job (if your current job fires you, which is likely) or access to an education, or to the loan you would need to pursue said education. You could lose your home. You could be deported. Because criminal charges are often a matter of public record, you can find yourself being judged long after you paid the price for your actions.
What about assault claims involving Uber and Lyft?
There have been a rash of complaints lately involving passengers in Uber or Lyft vehicles, claiming they have been assaulted by their drivers. Many of these charges involve sexual assault, but countless others involve passengers being physically attacked or threatened by drivers – and drivers who claim to have been carjacked, beaten up, robbed, or otherwise harmed by their passengers.
Most rideshare vehicles have dashcams, which the companies like to say will prove what actually happened in the vehicles. However, not every driver turns on the dashcam, and not every passenger is comfortable being filmed. And while people like to think all will be made clear from the videos, we know that this is not necessarily true.
If you are an Uber or Lyft driver who has been accused of perpetrating an assault on a rider, or if you are a passenger who is accused of attempting to attack your driver, we want to help. Contact us to learn more.
How a Lebanon assault defense attorney can help
Just because assault cannot be expunged from a record, does not mean there are no other options available to you. If you are a first-time offender with an otherwise clean record, you could be offered a pre-trial diversion by the prosecutor, or a judicial diversion by the judge. Tennessee in particular has laws on the books specifically for veterans and active duty servicepeople, as well as those who have problems with substance abuse. In certain circumstances, therefore, you may be offered a diversion.
If not, then we will fight for your rights with everything we have. Partner Jeff Cherry is a former Metro Police Officer, and uses that experience to inform how we build our strategies. We always aim to have all of your charges dropped outright. If that is not in the cards, then we can negotiate a plea deal on your behalf, if that is in your best interest. If going to trial is inevitable, we build our strategy based on what is best for you, your family, and your future.
Facing assault charges in Middle Tennessee? Contact our Lebanon attorneys
Lowery, Lowery & Cherry, PLLC, has represented clients throughout the state since 1962. We have an established reputation for smart, savvy defense strategies, and a deep understanding of what you are up against. If you are facing assault charges, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today for knowledgeable guidance and representation. We serve clients in Nashville, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Cookeville, or elsewhere in Tennessee. To set up a consultation, call 615-444-7222 or fill out our contact form.