Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys Serving Nashville, Tennessee

If you are reading this, you are probably stressed about pending charges against yourself or someone you love in Tennessee. Criminal charges can impact your freedom, your livelihood, and your home life - you need a Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer who understands that.

The Cassell Firm has defended those charged with everything from murder and drug trafficking offenses to theft and vandalism. We have also defended numerous clients in alcohol and drug-related DUI cases. With attorney's who have spent significant time working in a District Attorney's Offices and as a Criminal Court Clerks before joining the defense bar, we have experience with all sides of the criminal justice system. Whether you are charged with the most serious felony or need representation in an Order of Protection hearing, we will do everything in our power to obtain the best results for you, your future, and your family's future. Below are some of the most frequent crimes our Nashville Criminal Attorneys defend against.

DUI defense attorney in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville DUI Defense Attorney

A first conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) in the state of Tennessee is a misdemeanor. But did you know that it carries mandatory jail time and the potential to lose your license, even on the first offense? You may also be on the hook for fines, restitution, court costs, and fees associated with "ignition interlock" devices and classes. All of these potential penalties grow in number and severity the more DUI's of which you are convicted. Needless to say, when you are looking at such steep penalties, you are going to need a strong DUI Defense Attorney.

Law enforcement may bring a charge of DUI if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08% or higher. To establish this, members of law enforcement may conduct "Standard Field Sobriety Tests," use a breathalyzer machine, or withdraw, and perform a test on, your blood. However, all of these methods require strict compliance with methods and procedures to be admissible against you. Further, there are a number of legal requirements the police have to comply with before they can even pull you over. You need a "DUI Attorney" who understands all of these issues, how they interact, and how to use them in your defense.

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Drug crime defense attorney in Nashville, TN

Criminal Defense Attorney for Drug Crimes

Our Criminal Defense Attorney in Nashville, TN understands that being charged with a crime involving drugs can be confusing in the State of Tennessee. Depending on (1) what the alleged controlled substance is, (2) how much of the controlled substance there is, and (3) what you are being accused of doing with that controlled substance; the charge and range of punishment can vary wildly from a maximum of six (6) months in jail, all the way up to 30 years in prison. On top of all of this, these charges may be impacted by the location of the alleged incident.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 7 of the Tennessee Constitution guarantees you certain rights that law enforcement absolutely cannot ignore. Generally, members of law enforcement need your permission before they may lawfully search you or your property. If you do not give your permission, then members law enforcement must meet certain standards before they are allowed to search you or your property. Many of the defenses available to you when you are accused of a drug charge rest on how well your Criminal Defense Attorney understands your rights, and how strong he or she will be in asserting those rights.

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Criminal defense attorney for assault charges in Tennessee

Nashville Defense Attorney for Assault Charges

When charged with "Assault", sometimes called "Simple Assault," in the State of Tennessee, it is important to know what type of assault of which you are being accused. This will greatly impact your defense. There are three basic types: 1) Bodily Injury; 2) Reasonable Fear of Imminent Bodily Injury; and, 3) Extremely Offensive or Provocative Physical Contact. Generally, all three of these types, are Misdemeanors.

However, if a number of other factors are present, such as the use of a "deadly weapon" or "strangulation" of the victim, then law enforcement may charge "Aggravated Assault." Aggravated Assault may be as high as a C Felony which carries potential prison time of three (3) to six (6) years for Standard Offenders. Common defenses in these types of cases include self-defense or the defense of another. You will need an attorney who will listen to your side of the story, and be able to communicate that effectively on your behalf.

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Criminal Defense Attorney for domestic violence in Nashville, TN

Domestic Violence and Orders of Protection

The difference between Domestic Assault and Assault is the victim and the punishment. Generally speaking, a the alleged victim in a Domestic Assault case will have a familial, romantic (either past or present), or cohabitation relationship. If that sort of relationship is present and an assault occurs, typically Domestic Assault, is charged. Much like DUI's, Domestic Assault penalties grow in severity the more of which you are convicted. So, the first conviction may be treated similarly to an Assault with classes or probation, but if the second and third convictions are for "bodily injury"-type, they will require mandatory jail time of 30 and 90 days, respectively. The third, and any subsequent Domestic Assault convictions, will also be raised to Class E Felonies. Other commonly charged offenses in a domestic violence cases are Vandalism, Harassment, and Stalking.

Along with these criminal charges, an Order of Protection may be in play against the accused. An Order of Protection is, in short, a Court Order that one person cannot contact another person. Such an Order may be granted, under certain circumstances, "ex parte." This means the accused may not even have been present to explain their side of things when the Order was granted. In that case, a hearing will be set within 30 days, typically accompanying any other criminal charges.

With so many different possibilities on the table in a Domestic Violence case, you need a Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer who understands every aspect of these cases. Someone with the experience to navigate these hurdles and protect your record so that your side of the story is heard.

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Aggravated domestic assault lawyer in Nashville, TN

Learn More About Criminal Defense

Understanding The Role of a Defense Attorney

A quality defense attorney can make a difference in your unique case. Learn more about the role of a defense attorney with The Cassell Firm.

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Criminal charges and convictions can drastically affect your child custody hearing. Learn how a reliable defense attorney can help you.

When to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal charges can impact your freedom, livelihood, and your home life. Here's what you need to know about when to hire an attorney.

I have been in a situation in the last 6 months with an old boyfriend that has now proved to have had a pass of abusing and causing pain to other women. He was stalking me and falling in to his ways of the past. I live out of state and Caleb Cassell of the Cassell Firm, took hold of this. The harassing protection claim of the guy in Nashville was false and Calab's goal was to put a stop to this man's ability to keep me in court and causing me unjust expense in the future. Caleb, had this case due to his expert experience with domestic violence, "dismissed" and proved without a doubt that this stalker/past boyfriend would have to answer to the judge at her bench with no way having this bogus protection claim issued, but dismissed it instead.👍 This lawyer was professional, quick to handle a last minute court appearance with me traveling 14 hours total to prove my innocence. Caleb, worked to strike this claim and this man's ability to keep bothering me and Caleb was able to prove without a doubt that the claim was a false claim. My sincere gratitude to Caleb. It is a refreshing experience, that there are good, caring, lawyers out there!! My thanks is overwhelming and he will not waste time nor you money or time!! Caleb, if given the truth and the real support to prove you are innocent, will be very driven to find justice.

- CJ

I hired Mrs. Cassell to represent me in a civil contempt case. Jane is very professional and did her due diligence to ensure that I received the outcome I was looking for. I am currently a paralegal student at Nashville State Community College and have been learning a lot about the law and legal ethics, Jane is an excellent example of what the attorney-client relationship should be and represent. I would strongly recommend that if you need legal advise or need to obtain legal counsel that you call The Cassell Firm.

- Anthony