Felony Defense Attorneys in Germantown, TN

Defending Against All Classes of Felonies in West Tennessee

Tennessee categorizes felonies into 5 classifications (with some unclassified crimes). The lowest class carries a prison sentence of a least 1 year, and the highest class is penalized with up to 60 years of imprisonment. Severe crimes, such as first-degree misdemeanor, are punishable by life imprisonment or death. A felony on your record can affect you for life. Only in limited circumstances can the information be sealed. If you’re facing charges, you need an attorney to assist in building an aggressive defense to seek to avoid or minimize the long-term consequences of a conviction.

At Snider & Horner, PLLC, our Germantown felony attorneys have decades of combined legal experience and leverage our talents and knowledge to protect the rights of individuals throughout West Tennessee. When you turn to us, you can expect to receive personalized service from a team that genuinely cares about you. We approach each case with fearless determination, aggressively negotiating with prosecutors or presenting compelling arguments in court to pursue a favorable outcome. Our team is ready to hear your side of the story and determine the paths we can take to seek justice.

Facing a felony charge in West Tennessee? Contact Snider & Horner, PLLC at (901) 730-8880 today.

Understanding Felonies in Tennessee

Tennessee separates criminal offenses into misdemeanors or felonies. The more severe crimes receive the latter designation.

The state has five felony classifications: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E. Of these, Class A is considered the most severe and Class E the least.

Examples of felonies in Tennessee include:

• Class B
  • Aggravated kidnapping (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-304): The offense is committed when someone unlawfully restricts the liberties of another person to commit or flee after committing a felony, to interfere with government business, with the intent to seriously injure the other person, causing bodily harm to the other person, or possessing or threatening to use a deadly weapon.
• Class C
  • Aggravated assault (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102): A person may be accused of this offense if they intentionally or knowingly cause serious bodily injury to another individual.
• Class D
  • Aggravated assault (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102): Charges arise when a person’s reckless conduct causes someone else to suffer serious bodily injury.
• Class E
  • Criminally negligent homicide (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102): A charge may be filed against a person if they are alleged to have engaged in behavior that creates a substantial and unjustifiable risk to others but failed to perceive those risks and caused the death of another individual.

Not all crimes fall into one of the classifications above. For example, first-degree murder, the deliberate killing of another, does not have a felony class designation.

Our Germantown felony attorneys are here to combat the allegations against you, no matter the offense you have been accused of. We take every case seriously and dedicate the time and effort necessary to defend our clients.

Penalties for Felonies in Tennessee

The penalties for felonies vary depending on the classification of the crime. That said, even the least severe offenses can be serious, carrying a minimum of 1 year in prison.

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111, potential punishments for felonies include:

• Class B
  • 8 to 20 years of imprisonment and/or
  • Up to $25,000 in fines
• Class C
  • 3 to 15 years of imprisonment and/or
  • Up to $10,000 in fines
• Class D
  • 2 to 12 years of imprisonment and/or
  • Up to $5,000 in fines
• Class E
  • 1 to 6 years of imprisonment and/or
  • Up to $3,000 in fines

The potential penalties for felonies without a classification designation will be stated in the statute for the offense.

For example, the law provides that first-degree murder (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202) is punishable by:

• Death,
• Life imprisonment without parole, or
• Life imprisonment.

Statute of Limitations for Felonies in Tennessee

The statute of limitations establishes the amount of time the State has to prosecute an offense. Prosecution means an indictment or warrant was issued, an information was filed, or a first appearance was made. If the case were not started within the deadline, it might be dismissed.

Generally, the limitations for felonies are as follows:

• An offense punishable by death or life imprisonment
  • No time limit
• Class B felony
  • 8 years
• Class C or Class D felony
  • 4 years
• Class E felony
  • 2 years

If you’re being investigated for an offense but criminal charges haven’t been filed, reach out to our felony attorneys in Germantown. The sooner you get started on your defense, the more time your attorney has to prepare your case.

Can You Expunge Felonies in Tennessee?

When you are charged with or convicted of a crime, that information stays on your criminal record, which is publicly accessible. Anyone can see that you had a brush with the law, causing certain hurdles for you.

An expunction is a way to clear or seal your record, removing obstacles you might be facing. Some felonies can be expunged, but your case must meet certain criteria.

At Snider & Horner, PLLC, we fight hard toward obtaining a favorable result, such as dropped charges or case dismissal, helping avoid the life-altering consequences of a conviction.

Contact Our Germantown Felony Defense Team Today

If you have been charged with a felony, it’s important to have legal counsel on your side throughout your case. These matters are complex. An attorney can protect your rights and ensure that you understand your legal options.

To speak with one of our Germantown felony attorneys, please call us at (901) 730-8880 or contact us online today. We proudly serve the people of West Tennessee.