Criminal Defense Case Results in Tennessee

Charge

Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer (Contact)

Location

Sumner County, Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

During a traffic stop involving a friend, our client approached officers to ask for a supervisor. The encounter escalated and an officer alleged the client pushed him as the officer moved to handcuff the client, leading to an assault on a law enforcement officer charge. We obtained the body cam, dash cam, and the client’s phone video and compared them with the reports. The footage did not show clear, intentional contact and exposed inconsistencies in the accounts. We made clear we were prepared to litigate those issues at a hearing, and the prosecutor dismissed the case.

Charge

Failure to Notify Law Enforcement of an Accident

Location

Williamson County, Special Judge

Allegations

Another driver reported a minor contact and claimed our client left without calling police. When stopped later, the client told officers he did not believe he had been in a crash, though a scuff on a fender was noted afterward. We pressed for the accident report, dispatch records, and bodycam, and focused the state on the timeline showing he pulled over immediately when signaled and never interacted with the other motorist on scene. With no proof he knowingly failed to report an accident, the prosecution dismissed the charge.

Charge

Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia

Location

Williamson County, Special Judge

Allegations

The client was stopped and arrested. After the client had been removed from the scene, officers searched the vehicle and reported finding items they labeled as drug paraphernalia in the trunk. We obtained the bodycam and police reports and focused on the justification for the warrantless trunk search, the lack of any recorded consent, and how the evidence was documented. We put the state on notice that we were prepared to litigate suppression. The prosecution dismissed the paraphernalia charge.

Charge

DUI - First Offense

Location

Davidson County, Court Room: Birch Bldg, Court Room 5C

Allegations

After a minor collision, the client was investigated for DUI. Bodycam captured the officer initially noting no odor of alcohol and few signs of impairment, even as bystanders pressed for an arrest. The client completed roadside exercises without obvious failures, and a blood sample was taken later. We obtained and reviewed the video and reports, emphasizing the inconsistent observations and lack of clear indicators. Leveraging those weaknesses, we negotiated the case down to a lesser charge with straight probation.

Charge

Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Class A Misdemeanor)

Location

Davidson County, Birch Bldg, Court Room 5C

Allegations

Police alleged our client left the scene after a single-vehicle crash. According to reports and video, the car was disabled and the client walked away from active lanes toward a safer area, no other vehicles or injuries were involved. We pulled the accident report and body and dash camera footage, then compared the officer's narrative to the timeline and location data. We pressed the state on whether they could prove a knowing failure to stop and report rather than a safety move. Faced with those issues, the prosecutor dismissed the case.

Charge

DUI - Second Offense

Location

Davidson County, Birch Bldg, Court Room 5C

Allegations

After a single vehicle crash near an on ramp, officers found the client walking away and arrested them for a second DUI. A hospital blood draw was taken. We secured the body cam and dash cam footage, the accident report, and the lab records, then focused on two weaknesses, whether any consent to the blood draw was valid given reported head injury and memory gaps, and whether the state could actually prove who was driving since the client was not found in the vehicle. Leveraging those issues, we negotiated a reduction to a lesser charge with straight probation.

Charge

Public Intoxication (Class C Misdemeanor)

Location

Wilson County

Allegations

Our client was arrested for public intoxication after an encounter with police in a public area. We obtained the report, evaluated the officer's account, and prepared to challenge whether the statutory elements were actually met. At our direction, the client completed an alcohol education class and we submitted the certificate ahead of court. We met the client at the hearing and engaged the prosecutor with that mitigation and our defenses. The state agreed to dismiss the case.

Charge

DUI - First Offense

Location

Davidson County, Birch Bldg, Court Room 5D

Allegations

Police responded to a crash and alleged signs of impairment, then put the client through field sobriety tests despite a freshly fractured foot. At booking, the breath test registered as inconclusive and no blood was drawn. We obtained body and dash video, the crash and arrest reports, and medical records confirming the injury, then challenged the reliability of the roadside testing and the absence of chemical proof. With those weaknesses laid out, we pressed negotiations until the State agreed to reduce the case to a non-DUI offense with straight probation.

Charge

Domestic Assault - Bodily Injury (Class A Misdemeanor)

Location

Sumner County, Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

After a domestic argument, our client was arrested for domestic assault based on a brief on-scene statement. He acknowledged some water was spit during the dispute, denied any neck grabbing, and there was no weapon or prior history. We moved quickly to modify the no-contact bond condition so the family could communicate while we investigated. We obtained the affidavit, officer video, and home security footage showing a third party escalating the situation and that our client called 911, then contrasted that with inconsistent accounts and the complainant's reluctance to proceed. With that record and proof of voluntary counseling, we pressed the prosecution, and the case was dismissed.

Charge

Public Intoxication

Location

Rutherford County, SMYRNA JUSTICE CENTER

Allegations

The arrest followed an evening where the individual had been drinking at home and chose to walk to get food. An officer alleged the person stepped into traffic, leading to a public intoxication charge. The client had no criminal history and was fully cooperative. We scrutinized the officer’s account, questioned whether the legal requirement of endangerment was met, and compiled mitigation, including proof of a proactively completed alcohol education program. After negotiations and submission of documentation, the state dismissed the case.

Charge

Tampering with Evidence

Location

Rutherford County, Judge Ben Hall McFarlin III

Allegations

Police were called to a family home during a mental health crisis. Our client had taken a pair of scissors from a relative to prevent injury, then officers found them in his pocket and alleged he tried to hide evidence. We secured the client’s recording of the encounter and a witness account confirming he removed the item to disarm, not to conceal. We highlighted the lack of intent and inconsistencies in the report to the prosecutor. The felony was reduced to a lesser count with credit for time already served.

Charge

Resisting Arrest

Location

Rutherford County, Judge Ben Hall McFarlin III

Allegations

Police were called to a family residence during a mental health crisis. Our client was restraining a juvenile to protect a relative when officers arrived and misread the situation. He voiced frustration but maintained he did not physically resist. We secured the client’s arrest video and confronted the prosecution with discrepancies between the report and what the footage showed, including claims he dragged a juvenile. Using that context, we negotiated a reduction with credit for time served, closing the case without additional jail.