Criminal Defense Case Results in Sumner, TN

Charge

Domestic Assault

Location

Sumner County

Allegations

Police responded to a shared housing dispute where a verbal argument got loud. The client was accused of making threats and charged with domestic assault, despite no report of weapons, injury, or physical contact. We obtained the warrant, reports, and body cam, and set the matter for a hearing to require live testimony. The complainant’s accounts shifted between the initial report and follow up, and other credibility problems surfaced. Leveraging those weaknesses, we secured an agreement for dismissal upon completion of a brief class. The client complied, and the state dismissed the case.

Charge

Implied Consent Violation (Civil)

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

The client was stopped during a nighttime traffic stop. After roadside exercises, they declined a chemical test, and officers obtained a warrant with blood drawn several hours later. We obtained the reports and records surrounding the refusal and warrant, verified what video evidence was available, and focused negotiations on a compliance-based resolution. The case concluded with straight probation. We then guided the client through license compliance steps, including SR-22, ignition interlock, and DMV paperwork.

Charge

Speeding

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

Police initiated a traffic stop after alleging the driver was traveling 55 in a 40 mph zone. When the vehicle coasted and veered while pulling over due to mechanical issues the client reported, the officer treated the stop as more serious than a simple citation. Our team obtained the reports, requested dash and body camera footage, and confirmed there was no dash video available from the agency. We highlighted the lack of video corroboration and the vehicle defects that could affect the officer’s observations. After negotiations, the speeding case was resolved with a term of probation, avoiding additional consequences.

Charge

DUI - First Offense (Class A Misdemeanor)

Location

Sumner County, Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick

Allegations

Stopped for speeding late at night, the client performed roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. We obtained the reports and learned the agency had no dashcam video to corroborate the officer’s account. The client disclosed a lazy eye and ankle issues that can affect balance, which we emphasized when assessing the field tests. Blood was drawn only after a warrant and several hours after the stop, so we scrutinized the timing and paperwork. Leveraging those weaknesses and mitigation, we negotiated straight probation.

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

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 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 (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.