Criminal Defense

I welcome all clients who are in trouble and look forward to solving their problems.

Criminal Defense

• Aiding, Abetting, Accessory, Conspiracy
• Appeals
• Capital Crimes/Capital Cases
• Environmental Violations
• Felonies
• Grand Jury Proceedings
• Juvenile Crimes
• False Identification
• Truancy
• Military Crimes (UCMJ)
• Misdemeanors
• Parole
• Probation
• Perjury
• Plea Negotiation
• Search & Seizure
• Victims' Rights
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

Abuse

• Animal Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Elder Abuse

Automotive

• DUI
• Felony Auto Accidents
• Parking Tickets & Towing
• Traffic - Moving Violations
• Open Container
• Driving with a Suspended License
• Driving without a License
• DWI

Criminal Records

• Expungement or Expunction

Drugs

• Drug Cultivation & Manufacturing
• Drug Possession
• Intent to Distribute Drugs
• Intent to Sell Drugs

Firearms & Weapons

• Constitutional Rights Defense
• Illegal Possession or Transportation
• Other Weapons & Devices

Fraud & Financial Crimes

• Checks & Credit Cards
• Embezzlement
• Extortion
• Forgery
• Identity Theft
• Insurance Claims
• Racketeering & RICO
• Smuggling

Violent Crimes

• Assault & Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Extortion
• Kidnapping
• Manslaughter
• Murder
• Robbery

TN, Mar 1994
Bar Number: 016432

Tennessee, U.S. District Court for East Tennessee, U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.

Middle Tennessee Criminal Justice Act - Panel Attorney and Member of the Tennessee and Williamson County Bar Associations.

I attend legal education seminars on the topics of criminal defense, personal injury, and worker's compensation.

I have numerous published cases:

• Wright v. Pate, 117 S.W.3d 774 (Tenn.Ct.App. 2002)
• State v. Coley, 32 S.W.3d 831 (Tenn. 2000)
• King v. State, 992 S.W.2d 946 (Tenn. 1999)
• King v. State, 989 S.W.2d 319 (Tenn. 1999)
• State v. Nesbit, 978 S.W.2d 872 (Tenn. 1998)
• State v. Vann, 976 S.W.2d 93 (Tenn. 1998)
• State v. Cribbs, 967 S.W.2d 773 (Tenn. 1998)
• State v. Cauthern, 967 S.W.2d 726 (Tenn. 1998)
• State v. Anderson, 985 S.W.2d 9 (Tenn.Crim.App. 1997)
• Carter v. State, 958 S.W.2d 620 (Tenn. 1997)
• Rickman v. State, 972 S.W.2d 687 (Tenn.Crim.App. 1997)
• Bates v. State, 973 S.W.2d 615 (Tenn.Crim.App. 1997)
• State v. Downey, 945 S.W.2d 102, 74 A.L.R.5th 729 (Tenn. 1997)
• Goad v. State, 938 S.W.2d 363 (Tenn. 1996)

1. I was hired after trial as the appellate attorney for a person charged with hundreds of counts of animal cruelty arising from the operation of a "puppy mill." On appeal, I was able to persuade the Court of Criminal Appeals that the search was unconstitutional and the admission of the evidence at trial was "plain error" and that challenge to such an error could not be waived. The court agreed and reversed all convictions.

2. My client was accused of attempting to murder his father with a kitchen knife in the family home. The father was 100 percent certain that his son stabbed him. Arguing that the father was intoxicated and that law enforcement had failed to preserve evidence at the scene, we were able to convince a majority of the jury that the state had not met its burden of proof. Later, my client pleaded guilty to assault and avoided spending decades in jail.

3. In a recent case, my client faced charges of stalking, aggravated assault, felony evading arrest, and resisting arrest. After his two day jury trial he was found "not guilty."

4. In a recent case, my client was charged with DUI and refused to submit to a blood alcohol test. On the night of his arrest he failed every field sobriety test and actually fell asleep in the back of the police cruiser. He was heard snoring on the recording. The jury returned a "not guilty" verdict and found that he had not violated the implied consent law because he was asleep and did not knowingly refuse to take the test.

5. In a case where it was believed that my client was the largest marijuana manufacturer in this part of the county, he faced felony manufacturing and sale charges simultaneously in three different counties. After a "not guilty" jury verdict in the government's strongest case, the other matters were very favorably resolved. My client avoided jail entirely.

1

Tennessee

My firm's focus is upon state and federal criminal defense.

I entered the practice of law in Nashville, Tennessee on May 10, 1994. Approximately half of my career has been devoted to the "public" practice of law. As Assistant Attorney General with the State of Tennessee from 1995 to 1999, I was a member of the State's Capital Litigation Team and litigated every legal challenge to a death sentence after its imposition.

In 1999, I joined the Public Defender's office. In the Public Defender's office I was given tremendous freedom with regard to my cases and gained a great deal of trial experience. In addition to the Attorney General and the Public Defender's office I spent a couple of years as an attorney with the Department of Children's Services. I worked closely with Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoption Services and Local Law Enforcement. I have an intimate understanding of how the Department of Children's Service and Law Enforcement operate when a child is injured or endangered.

Until 2007, my private practice was a general practice of law devoted largely to state and federal criminal defense, trial and appellate. Then, in 2007, I accepted a position as "in-house" trial counsel for Farmers Insurance Exchange (FIE). That position involved the defense of FIE's insured in the commercial, worker's compensation, and personal injury arenas. I also performed examinations under oath when insurance fraud was suspected.

I began law school in 1989 after my first tour in the United State Marine Corps. During law school, I interned with a federal judge and the U.S. Attorney's office. Although school was interrupted by a deployment during Desert Storm/Shield, I graduated in 1993. I began my legal career in the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Attorney General and Reporter. After several years as a prosecutor working in the appellate courts, I switched to criminal defense, where I place an emphasis on fighting to protect my clients' constitutional rights and ensuring that all defendants are treated fairly.

Pro bono work and work for Legal Aid.

Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Evenings and weekends by appointment.

Yes

I have interpreters available for most languages.

Most of my fees are flat rate, depending on the type of charges and the complexity of the case.

$225.

Yes, the first half-hour is free. I will happily answer simple questions via email, which goes directly to my BlackBerry and, in most cases, will be answered upon receipt.

I charge a flat-fee for my services based on the category of crime. In the U.S District Court, misdemeanors range from $2,500 to $5,000 and felonies start at $7,500. In State Courts, General Sessions fees range from $350 to $2,500 and Circuit Court fees begin at $2,500.