Criminal Defense Case Results in Sumner, TN

Charge

Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

A routine traffic stop for a registration issue led to a vehicle search after consent was given. Officers found a dugout and a vape, and charged our client with unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. We examined the basis for the stop, the voluntariness and scope of the search, and pressed the state on proving what was actually in the devices. We also documented the client's clean record and cooperation. After negotiations, the state agreed to a plea to straight probation, avoiding jail and keeping penalties limited.

Charge

Possession or Casual Exchange (Class A Misdemeanor)

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

Stopped for an expired registration, the client consented to a vehicle search. Officers found a small amount of plant material and a THCA vape, then issued a citation with instructions to self book. We stepped in early, coordinated processing, and pulled discovery to question whether the substances were truly illegal and how they were tested. Using the client’s clean history and those evidentiary issues, we pressed for a noncustodial outcome. The state agreed to straight probation, avoiding jail and limiting collateral consequences.

Charge

Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Class A Misdemeanor)

Location

Sumner County, C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Police cited our client for leaving the scene after a minor property accident. He had swerved to avoid an animal, believed he struck a trash can, and drove a short distance on a blown tire to a nearby residence. When told it was a mailbox, he returned, spoke with the owner and officers, and his insurance paid for the damage. We gathered the citation noting his return and collected proof of restitution. We pressed the prosecution on the ability to prove he knowingly left the scene and highlighted full cooperation and no injuries. The state dismissed the case.

Charge

Possession or Casual Exchange of Marijuana

Location

Sumner County, Judge C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Stopped for speeding, our client was told the car smelled like marijuana and consented to a search. An officer found a small dispensary-labeled jar in a backpack and issued a citation for simple possession. The client disclosed the contents could be a mix of THCA and marijuana, so we obtained the reports and kept negotiations away from lab testing that could harden the state’s stance. We secured an under-advisement plan requiring a brief online class and no new offenses. Once our client complied and we provided proof, the case was dismissed.

Charge

Public Intoxication

Location

Sumner County, C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Police arrested our client for public intoxication after she was locked out of her home and walked toward a nearby friend's house. The report alleged she was a danger, but there was no driving, no contraband, and no disturbance. We gathered her account and documented proactive steps, including verified AA meeting attendance. We challenged whether the facts met the statute and highlighted her minimal record and job impact. The state agreed to a path to dismissal conditioned on brief good behavior and alcohol education. After she complied, the case was dismissed.

Charge

Violation of an Order of Protection

Location

Sumner County, C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Police alleged our client violated an order of protection by going to a residence and contacting the protected party. We gathered the message history and call logs showing the protected party had directed the client to be at the property and continued communicating. We also challenged whether the order had been properly served at the time and documented that the incident occurred during a severe weather emergency with limited power and lodging. After presenting these issues and signaling readiness to litigate, we secured pre-trial diversion, keeping a conviction off the record.

Charge

Domestic Assault - Bodily Injury

Location

Sumner County, C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Police were called to a domestic dispute at a residence. The complainant showed a minor scratch, and officers arrested our client based largely on that mark and the initial statement. We obtained the police reports and available recordings, gathered the message history surrounding the argument, and emphasized the lack of independent corroboration for an intentional injury. We presented this context to the prosecutor and kept pressure on the weaknesses in proof. The case was resolved with pre-trial diversion, protecting the client’s record upon completion.

Charge

Violation of Condition of Release

Location

Sumner County, Judge C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Officers responded to a 911 call from the client requesting an ambulance for injuries and chest pain. She was on bond with a no alcohol condition. Despite her repeated requests for testing, officers assumed intoxication and arrested her for violating a condition of release. We compiled call logs and medical records showing a medical episode, not drinking, and emphasized the absence of any objective test to prove a violation. Faced with those gaps and our readiness to litigate, the prosecutor dismissed the case.

Charge

Domestic Assault - Bodily Injury (Second Offense)

Location

Sumner County, C. Ron Blanton

Allegations

Police responded to a domestic argument at a residence and arrested our client after noting a minor mark on the other party. From the start, our client consistently disputed any assault. We pulled the reports, organized the client’s texts and materials into a clear timeline, and underscored that the arrest decision hinged on a single, contested observation with no reliable corroboration. We challenged the credibility of the account and pressed the state on its ability to prove bodily injury beyond a reasonable doubt. After negotiations, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

The client was cited during a traffic contact after being unable to pull up her digital insurance card. She maintained she was insured, so we obtained the carrier’s declarations page and written confirmation that the policy was active on the date of the stop. We organized and submitted this verified proof of financial responsibility to the prosecution. Once the state reviewed the documentation and confirmed coverage, it recognized it could not prove the offense. The case was dismissed.

Charge

DUI - First Offense

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

After a minor collision, the client parked near a store and later encountered officers who noted sluggish behavior and directed field sobriety tests. She cooperated throughout and a blood sample was taken at the jail, with alcohol returning at zero while the lab pursued a full toxicology screen. We pressed for body cam footage and challenged the timeline, emphasizing indications that any substance use occurred after driving. We also documented her completion of inpatient treatment. Following persistent negotiations, the case was resolved with probation.

Charge

Driving on Roadways Laned for Traffic

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

The client was cited for Driving on Roadways Laned for Traffic after an incident where damage to a wall and the vehicle was noted. Officers made contact only after the car was parked, not while it was in motion. We scrutinized the incident report and available video evidence, emphasizing that no officer actually observed a marked-lanes violation and the narrative depended on after-the-fact assumptions. We challenged the sufficiency of the proof on each element and signaled readiness to litigate. The prosecution dismissed the citation.