Criminal Defense Law

The Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee is a wonderful experience for thousands and thousands of music lovers each June. The festival draws people from across the county. While many attendees love the performances, there are hundreds of people each year who are charged with crossing the line. These few hundred people are charged with selling…

As you know, Bonnaroo is a popular music festival. It’s also a “popular” place for local police to make a lot of arrests. But what happens if you’re arrested for one crime, but then charged with multiple crimes. Can the cops even do that? Yes, they can. It happens more often than you think. More…

Going out for a night on the town can end badly for you and your friends if you’ve had too much to drink. But what if you haven’t had “too much” to drink? Is it possible to get a DUI if you are under the legal limit? The short answer is, yes – you can…

Festivals like Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music Festival are a wonderful time for people of all age. They help to bring communities together, to listen to old favorites and to new performers across a wide spectrum of music styles. While these festivals can be a lot of fun, those in attendance should be aware that crimes do…

Any arrest is frightening. The police immediately take control of your life. It helps if you understand the process so that you know what to expect and so that you can make reasonable decisions. After you’re arrested or placed in custody, the arresting police officer has a duty to warn you of your Miranda rights.…

Tennessee has adopted the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) which sets the minimum standards sex offender must meet for registration and notification. For most convicted sex offenders, the requirement to register as a sex offender is horrific. The registration can be searched by the public. Registration brands defendants, often for life. Registration…

Defendants who are charged with most crimes have a right to a preliminary hearing. This hearing takes place after the defendant has been arraigned (entered a plea) and after bail has been set. There are some procedural differences between federal and state preliminary hearings, but the basic strategies criminal defense lawyers use are the same…

Defendants can be charged with identity theft crimes by the state or by the federal government. Generally, identity theft consists of using someone’s personal identifying information to obtain such financial gain. Common examples include using the information of someone else to gain access to credit cards, bank accounts, and retirement contacts. It also includes using…

The Orlando Sentinel reported that a Florida man has come up with a new excuse for driving while intoxicated – it wasn’t really him driving, it was his dog. Alas, the excuse didn’t pan out and the driver now finds himself in the proverbial doghouse. The man was arrested and charged with driving under the…

Criminal asset seizure is a law enforcement tool that allows the government to take the property that is owned by those accused of committing crimes. Criminal asset seizure or forfeiture is usually conducted related to the possession of narcotics. Law enforcement can seize money, vehicles, home or other property related to the commission of a…

The Tennessean reported on July 3, 2018, that federal judge Aleta Trauger ruled that it was unconstitutional for Tennessee to revoke a driver’s license just because he/she couldn’t afford to pay the court costs. The decision, according to a lawyer for the National Center for Law and Economic Justice in New York City, could have…

When a person has been convicted of a DUI and their license has been suspended for one year, it can cause a lot of chaos in their life. Depending on the nature of the incident, they may be able to obtain a restricted license, but a restricted license does not allow a person to go…

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will take place June 7-10 in Manchester, Tennessee. The four-day musical festival attracts local residents and visitors from across the country. The music normally starts around noon and can last until the early morning hours. A broad variety of music styles can be heard including bluegrass, rock, jazz, gospel,…

The week of Bonnaroo is an exciting and indescribable time in Manchester, Tennessee. The area is flooded with locals, musicians, artists, and out-of-towners all looking to enjoy themselves at our famous annual music festival. And, as happens with a festival of this size, the area will also be flooded with law enforcement. Many agencies in…

Tickets went on sale in January for this year’s Bonnaroo festival, once again held at the Farm in Manchester from June 7 to June 10. The lineup for 2018 is another group of heavy hitters, with Eminem, The Killers, and Muse as headliners. Sturgill Simpson, Bassnectar, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Kaskade and…

You may have seen a true crime TV show such as Dateline or 20/20 when the authorities are able to figure out the perpetrators route of travel by pinging and triangulating the data from the cell phone towers that the person passed as they carried out their misdeeds. Sometimes this data is precise, and other…

As we prepare for another season of Bonnaroo, which will kick off on June 7th through the 10th on “The Farm” in Manchester, Tennessee, we want to share some useful (we hope) tips for Bonnoroovians to help make their festival experience as memorable (in a good way) and fun as they hoped it would be.…

Whether you have been charged with DUI, drug crimes, or with any other type of crime in Tennessee, while you are waiting for your court date you might wonder whether it is OK for you to continue to update your social media accounts. The answer is no in the strongest possible way. You have been…

If you get pulled over by law enforcement on suspicion of drunk driving, the law enforcement officer might have you blow into a breathalyzer to see if it detects alcohol in your system. But what if you could know before you start the car, when you are ready to leave the bar or a house…

The hardcore among you already know and are already preparing for the 2018 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The 2018 lineup was just announced and as usual, does not disappoint. With Eminem, Future, the Killers, Muse Bassnectar, Khalid, Bon Iver and so many more set to perform this summer, the 17th annual edition of the…