If you’ve searched for a criminal defense lawyer in Tennessee, you’ve probably seen the same word pop up again and again: “aggressive.” Billboards, websites, and TV ads all promise an attorney who will fight tooth and nail on your behalf. It sounds appealing — who wouldn’t want a lawyer who fights hard for them? But…
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Diversion can allow some Tennessee defendants to avoid a permanent conviction, but eligibility depends on the exact charge and the person’s record. DUI is excluded from both pretrial and judicial diversion under Tennessee law. Domestic assault is excluded from pretrial diversion, although judicial diversion may remain possible for a qualified defendant. Some misdemeanor and lower-level…
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A fight can end with police treating the injured person as the victim and the person who fought back as the defendant. Tennessee self-defense law requires a closer look. The question is whether force was reasonably believed to be immediately necessary against unlawful force. The Law Office of Bryan Stephenson represents people in Nashville and…
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A night out in Nashville can turn serious quickly when police believe alcohol or drugs have made someone unsafe in public. In Tennessee, public intoxication is not based only on whether a person had drinks. The State must connect impairment to danger, property risk, or unreasonable disturbance under Tennessee Code § 39-17-310. The Law Office…
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A theft charge is not only about whether property changed hands. The State must also prove what was in the person’s mind at the time. In Tennessee, theft of property requires proof that a person knowingly obtained or exercised control over property, without the owner’s effective consent, and with intent to deprive the owner of…
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A DUI arrest can put your license, job, family responsibilities, and record at risk almost immediately. The Law Office of Bryan Stephenson represents people facing DUI and criminal charges in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, with direct attorney involvement from Bryan Stephenson, a former Assistant District Attorney for Davidson County. Under Tennessee law, a first offense…
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