Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer

Nashville Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with a crime in Nashville, a successful conviction can impact the rest of your life in devastating ways. If convicted, not only will you suffer legal ramifications such as fines or prison time, but the negative toll on your reputation can ruin both your future and that of your family. The defense and representation by a Nashville criminal defense lawyer can prove essential to the outcome of your case.

At the Law Office of Cesar Arbelaez, our dedicated legal team is ready to fight for you – whatever charges you may be facing. We are passionate about coming alongside individuals who find themselves facing a criminal charge and working toward the reduction or even possible dismissal of these charges. We hope to help you avoid as many penalties as possible and tailor our defense in a way that will have the jury handing down a not-guilty verdict.

Areas of Criminal Defense Law We Practice

There are countless kinds of criminal charges an individual might face in the greater Nashville area. These crimes can be punishable under both Nashville, state, and federal law, and you need representation with a firm that understands all of the pertinent laws and statutes that may be involved in your case. At The Music City Defender, our seasoned defense attorney has vast experience advocating for clients facing a wide array of criminal charges, which include the following:

• Drug Crimes: Being charged with a drug crime in Nashville is serious. Prosecutors take these charges with extreme gravitas, and you deserve an attorney who takes your defense and freedoms with just as much seriousness. If you were allegedly found to be in possession of, distributing, or manufacturing any type of illegal drug or controlled substance, such as fentanyl or cocaine, you may find yourself facing charges of drug crimes in Nashville.
• Domestic Violence: An accusation of domestic violence can tarnish your personal and professional reputation for the rest of your life. You could risk fines, jail time, and even the right to bear, purchase, or use a firearm. Common actions related to domestic violence charges can include stalking, threats of bodily injury to another person without any physical contact, sexual assault, strangulation, or violating a protective order.
• Violent Crimes: Some of the most serious crimes of all are those which involve physical violence. Physical violent crimes are considered to be among the most serious crimes. The consequences of a successful conviction can lead to extreme punishments, including, in the most severe cases, the death penalty. Common actions that result in violent crime charges can include assault or aggravated assault, kidnapping, manslaughter, rape, murder, homicide, sexual battery, involuntary servitude, stalking, and intimidation.
• DUIs: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can result in serious and even fatal car accidents, and you may be held liable for both the alleged crime and also the injuries or death caused by your impaired driving. The penalties for a first, second, third, and even fourth DUI charge can become increasingly severe, and the need for representation is great. With your future on the line, fighting DUI charges is necessary.
• Sex Crimes: If you find yourself accused of any sex crimes in the Nashville area, it is imperative that you act promptly. The penalties for these convictions can come harshly and swiftly and ruin your future. At The Music City Defender, we have handled sex crimes cases, including those for rape, sexual battery, indecent exposure, and crimes against minors.
• Burglary/Theft: Individuals in Nashville can be charged with burglary or theft if they have allegedly entered the property of another party with the intention of stealing, or actually stealing, the other party’s personal belongings. These crimes can include those of identity theft, armed robbery, auto theft, fraud, credit card theft, embezzlement, shoplifting, larceny, or even being given or possessing stolen property.
• White Collar Crimes: Most commonly, a white collar crime refers to a crime that has been committed in a nonviolent way, usually in the professional sphere for personal, financial gain. These crimes can include those of embezzlement, fraud, wire fraud, insurance fraud, money laundering, insider trading, investment fraud, and mail fraud. Some of these charges can be convicted at the federal level and a skilled attorney is essential.

These are just some examples of crimes you might find yourself facing in the greater Nashville area. If you have been charged with a crime listed above or something different altogether, you need the assistance of a criminal defense attorney. An experienced attorney can prove essential to the outcome of your case. It is crucial to know all the legal options you are entitled to and have a robust defense against penalties that will negatively impact your life.

The Music City Defender: Defending You Against Criminal Charges

For close to a decade, The Music City Defender has been working hard to protect the rights, futures, and freedoms of clients across the Nashville area. Our skilled legal team has the experience and resources readily available that are required for a strong and solid defense. With your freedom on the line, now is not the time to try to defend yourself. Having the guidance and support of an experienced attorney is crucial in navigating these complex legal matters.

You may be wondering how an attorney can help you when facing criminal charges. This is understandable, as you likely have several unanswered questions about your circumstances. When you hire The Music City Defender, you are allowing yourself a fair chance at a favorable outcome for your case. Our firm can assist you by taking the following actions in your defense:

• Initial Assessment of Case: From the moment you walk into our office, we will listen to your side of the story and offer an honest assessment of your case. This will allow us to identify possible defense strategies, determine if you have suffered any Constitutional rights violations, and make note of any procedural errors that may have happened during the course of your arrest and subsequent booking.
• Explanation of Rights and Legal Options: We can then offer you a clear explanation of the rights you are entitled to and what legal options we believe are available to you in your criminal case. We can help you better understand the possible penalties involved in your case, the potential plea deal opportunities, and the defense strategies we may be able to use. By doing so, we can ensure that you are informed to make the correct decisions for yourself.
• Investigation and Gathering of Evidence: We can then begin to gather any relevant evidence that pertains to your defense, such as surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, or police reports. We may also be able to consult with forensic professionals, professionals in the medical field if such an action makes sense for your case, or private investigators who may be able to strengthen your defense.
• Building a Strong Defense: Once the investigation is complete on our end, we can begin to start building the strategy for your defense that will fit the specific needs and circumstances of your unique case. This is where our team excels, working to discredit the prosecution’s alleged evidence, highlight flaws in any testimony against you, or challenge the legality of your arrest.
• Negotiating with the Prosecution: Our highly-skilled team can then try to negotiate with the prosecution assigned to your case. We may be able to work toward a reduction of charges, a plea deal, or even have your charges dismissed altogether. We can advocate for the case resolution that you deserve, whether that be a lesser charge, a lighter sentence, or a complete dismissal.
• Courtroom Representation: Should negotiations with the prosecution not reach the desired outcome, we can confidently represent you in a courtroom trial before a judge and/or jury. We will aggressively work to ensure you have the right defense, arguing compelling points for your innocence so that your story is heard.We can also cross-examine any witnesses in your case, present our own evidence in your favor, and deliver an argument so that reasonable doubt can be created against the prosecution’s alleged case.
• Mitigating Sentencing: In the unfortunate situation where a conviction is handed down, we can work to minimize the sentencing you may face. We may be able to negotiate for lesser sentencing options, such as probation, rehabilitation programs, or community service over harsh jail sentences.
• Supporting You Post-Conviction: Once your case has been wrapped up, your dedicated attorney from The Music City Defender can assist you with any necessary post-conviction actions such as expungements, appeals, or violations of probation.

At the end of the day, the legal team at The Music City Defender is here to fight for you against any criminal charges you might find yourself facing. No matter what charges you may be dealing with, our firm is here to support you throughout the entire legal process and advocate for your rights, freedoms, and future.

Rights You Are Entitled to in a Criminal Case

When you are arrested for an alleged criminal action in Nashville, it is essential that you are aware of your Constitutional rights. The most important of these rights is that you are afforded the legal counsel and representation of a criminal defense attorney throughout every step of the proceedings surrounding your criminal charge. Other rights you are afforded under the United States Constitution include:

• The right to remain silent throughout all stages of the criminal justice process
• The right to be free from any unreasonable searches or seizures
• The right to a preliminary hearing if charged with a crime
• The right to have your case reviewed by a grand jury
• The right to confront your accuser
• The right to have witnesses testify on your behalf
• The right to a trial by a jury of your peers
• The right to appeal any conviction in a higher court of law

Your attorney from The Music City Defender has the knowledge necessary to review the exact details of your alleged crime, your arrest, and your formal booking to make a determination as to whether or not any of these rights have been violated by law enforcement or other personnel. If so, they may be able to use this as a potential defense against the charges you are facing.

Penalties for Crimes in Tennessee

The Tennessee criminal justice system typically breaks down crimes into two categories when it comes to the charges an individual may face. These two categories are felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are the more severe of charges, often drawing more severe and costly penalties. The classes of felonies and their common punishments in the state of Tennessee include:

• Class A: These are the most serious of all charges, and individuals convicted of these charges could face 15-60 years in prison with fines of upwards of $50,000. An example of a Class A felony could be aggravated rape.
• Class B: A conviction of these charges can find the individual facing imprisonment for a minimum of 8 years and no more than 30, along with a fine of up to $25,000. In Tennessee, an example of a Class B felony is a conviction for aggravated robbery.
• Class C: Individuals who are convicted of a Class C felony might find themselves facing a minimum prison sentence of three years and a maximum sentence of 15 years while also facing fines up to $10,000. Using children for the purposes of pornography is one example of a Class C felony.
• Class D: Persons who are charged and successfully convicted with a Class D felony can find themselves facing up to 12 years in prison and fines totaling no more than $5,000. One example of a Class D felony in Nashville is a charge of burglary.
• Class E: These are the least serious of all felony charges in Tennessee, but should still be taken with heavy gravitas. These charges can be punished with up to 6 years in prison and fines totaling no more than $3,000. Joyriding is one example of a Class E felony conviction.

In Tennessee, lesser charges may face misdemeanor penalties. These penalties include a potential maximum jail sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in a county jail. Misdemeanor charges can be broken down into the following classes:

• Class A: Individuals facing these charges, if convicted, can face a potential jail sentence up to 11 months and 29 days in county jail and a fine of no more than $2,500. Reckless Endangerment with no weapon can be considered a Class A misdemeanor.
• Class B: Individuals who face these convictions can expect jail time for no more than 6 months and fines totaling up to $500. Resisting arrest can be classified as a Class B misdemeanor in Tennessee.
• Class C: These are the least serious of all misdemeanor charges in Tennessee and are usually punished by a maximum of 30 days spent in county jail and a fine of up to $50. An example of a crime that may result in a Class C misdemeanor charge is disorderly conduct.