Felony charges can send an individual’s life into chaos, leading to anxiety and stress, a damaged reputation, and the risk of fines and jail time. These allegations can have far-reaching collateral consequences that could last long after the felony charges are dropped. Effectively combating felony charges with strategic legal action can help avoid some of the fallout of these claims and help protect the individual from negative consequences.
However, these legal strategies can be complex and may require in-depth knowledge of local law and court procedures. Felony charges may require the individual to evaluate the claims and compile evidence against them, then decide from that evidence which legal strategy would be most effective in court.
This can be overwhelming to an average individual, but a knowledgeable Washington County, Tennessee criminal law attorney from King Law Offices may be able to help. Contact the office today at (888) 748-KING for an initial consultation.
What Are Felony Charges?
Felony charges are defined as a specific kind of crime that is considered a felony by common law, has the potential to carry the death penalty, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison, or is otherwise specified as a felony by statute. This comprehensive terminology covers a wide array of charges. In Tennessee, the guidelines and definitions of felony charges are outlined by Tennessee Code § 40-2-101. Each felony charge may have unique implications or challenges when defending. Therefore, understanding which felony charges are in play and what the legal implications are could help clarify which defense strategy is most applicable. The nature of felony charges may impact how they are defended in court.
Common Types of Felony Charges
One must then consider which types of felony charges are in play. There are many different general classifications for felony charges in Tennessee, and each one may have unique implications for a criminal defense case. Violent crimes and felony charges will be tried differently from a white collar charge. This means that the defense may need to vary its defense strategy for different felony charges. However, despite the difference between these types of crimes, all felony offenders who have spent time in a Tennessee correctional facility may have their information logged in the Tennessee Felony Offender Information database.
Violent Crimes
Violent crimes may be the most straightforward type of felony charge to understand, and many include charges such as assault, aggravated assault, murder, manslaughter, and more. As with many felony charges, violent crimes may carry sentences of imprisonment and significant fines in many cases. While there are some violent felony charges like assault that could carry lighter sentences, others, like murder, could carry an incredibly heavy sentence.
Sex Crimes
Sex crimes may include offenses and charges such as sexual assault, child pornography, and others. The charges and sentences for these kinds of crimes may often be impacted by the ages of the parties involved, particularly when there is a large age gap or the offender is an authority figure over the victim. Sex crimes, as well as domestic violence claims, may be impacted by the private and intimate nature of these claims, and as such, may not rest as heavily on witness testimony.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence may be a felony charge in Tennessee, depending on the severity of the offense. Felony charges with this designation generally involve an act or threat of violence towards someone with whom the individual has a personal relationship. This relationship could be a marriage, or it could be that of a parent and child, or even a boyfriend and girlfriend. Domestic violence felony charges could be paired with other felony charges.
White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes, while very different from violent crimes or sex crimes, may still be considered felony offenses in Tennessee. These crimes are non-violent and generally revolve around breaking trust and misusing or stealing money in a business context. White collar crimes include fraud, embezzlement, and many other variations.
For more detailed information on felony charges in Washington County, speak with a skilled criminal defense lawyer from King Law Offices.
Strategic Defenses Against Felony Charges
While few criminal cases go to court, there are still many different tactics that can be employed by the defense to help protect against felony charges. Each technique may require certain points of evidence, as well as research and familiarity with the court process. Understanding how to defend a case with legal strategies can mean the difference between a felony sentence and a clearing of charges. Therefore, choosing the most effective strategy or combination of strategies is key.
Alibi Defense
One of the primary legal strategies for defense against felony charges is the alibi defense. An alibi is proof that the individual was somewhere else or engaged in another activity at the time of the crime. If the individual was not present, they could not have committed the crime. This may require records of the defendant’s travel and schedule, along with witnesses of the individual to support these claims.
Consent Defense
Another form of defense against felony charges is the consent defense. This strategy is based on the claim that the injured party consented to the action that led to their complaint. For example, a violent crime charge could be avoided if it can be proved that the injured party consented to a fight. This may not be as effective for white collar crimes or domestic violence charges.
Errors of Accusation Defense
An error of accusation is essentially a mistake made in the charges laid against an individual. This could include mistaken identity, a misidentification of the act committed, or other errors of fact. If the plaintiff claims that an individual committed a crime, but the defense can prove that what the individual did was not illegal, the individual may not be sentenced.
Insufficient Evidence Defense
In the court system of the United States, individuals are innocent until proven guilty. This means that a conviction cannot be issued without concrete proof and hard evidence connecting the individual to the crime. Employing an insufficient evidence defense may involve arguing that the proofs and arguments presented by the plaintiff are not enough to connect the individual to a crime. This may require a certain capacity for rhetoric and argument in court.
Contact a Tennessee Criminal Defense Attorney Today
Criminal defense is a very specialized field of law that often requires not only deep legal knowledge and experience, but also argumentative skills to debate in court. For those searching for a strong criminal defense strategy for felony charges, having an experienced Tennessee criminal law attorney from King Law Offices could be a significant asset. Schedule an appointment with a lawyer today by calling (888) 748-KING.