Misdemeanor Attorneys in Grainger County

What does it mean to be charged with a misdemeanor? How is a misdemeanor charge different from a felony charge? These are some of the questions you may ask yourself if you’ve been arrested and charged with a misdemeanor in Grainger County, Tennessee. Fortunately, a Grainger County misdemeanor attorney at Daniel, Daniel, & Newman can help you defend yourself against these charges.

Many people in Grainger County are familiar with the Daniel name. Creed Daniel and his son, the late Dirk Daniel, began providing the people of Grainger County with top-quality legal services over 80 years ago. Now, Creed’s great-nephew, attorney Evan M. Newman, is committed to continuing that legacy of service.

Daniel, Daniel, & Newman is a Christ-centered business built on the culture and values that mean so much to everyone in Grainger County. Our high customer satisfaction rates are a product of our compassionate approach to criminal defense. We will meet you where you are with empathy, understanding, and personal attention.

If you’re facing a misdemeanor charge in Grainger County, Tennessee — whether theft or property crimes, assault, drug possession, or reckless driving — contact Daniel, Daniel, & Newman immediately for a free consultation.

How a Grainger County Lawyer Can Help with Misdemeanor Charges

A Grainger County misdemeanor lawyer can help you fight your charges by:

• Creating an effective defense strategy based on their extensive knowledge of Tennessee law and familiarity with local courts, judges, and prosecutors
• Protecting your rights in the Grainger County legal system
• Negotiating with prosecutors to get your charges or penalties reduced
• Getting you into a judicial or pretrial diversion program to get your charges dismissed
• Convincing the judge to throw out improperly obtained evidence
• Making the strongest possible case for dismissal or acquittal

What Is a Misdemeanor?

Criminal offenses are classified differently from state to state. In Tennessee, all criminal offenses are either misdemeanors or felonies. A felony is a crime punishable by at least a year in state prison. A misdemeanor is not as serious as a felony, so the most severe possible penalty is less than a year in county jail.

Although a misdemeanor is not as significant as a felony, nobody wants to spend several months in jail, pay a large fine, and have a criminal record that could follow them for years. That’s why you should never disregard a misdemeanor charge. It is always possible to do something to defend yourself against a criminal charge and improve your outcome as much as possible.

Evan Newman, a reputable Grainger County misdemeanor attorney, can help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review.

What Are the Classes of Misdemeanors in Tennessee?

Tennessee law recognizes three classes of misdemeanor, including:

• Class A
• Class B
• Class C

Class A misdemeanors are the most serious of the three, while Class C misdemeanors are relatively minor. If you are charged with an unclassified misdemeanor, the law automatically treats it as Class A.

Common Crimes That Are Considered Misdemeanors

Many offenses can be either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the circumstances of the case. Common crimes that are considered misdemeanors include:

What Kind of Legal Repercussions Are Possible If You Are Convicted of a Misdemeanor?

Under Tennessee law, the legal repercussions that can follow from a misdemeanor conviction in Grainger County include:

• A fine of up to $2,500 and up to 11 months and 29 days in jail for a Class A misdemeanor
• A fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail for a Class B misdemeanor
• A fine of up to $50 and up to 30 days in jail for a Class C misdemeanor

What Are the Real-Life Consequences of a Conviction?

The legal consequences of a misdemeanor conviction are inconvenient and unpleasant, but the real-life implications outside the legal system can be even worse in many ways. Some of the problems you can experience after a misdemeanor conviction include the following:

• Losing your professional licenses or being denied a license in the future
• Not being able to rent an apartment from a landlord who does criminal background checks
• Not being able to work for an employer who does criminal background checks
• Being denied entry to some countries when you try to travel
• Damage to your reputation
• Greater likelihood of arrest and more severe penalties for any future convictions
• Losing custody of your children
• Losing your gun rights for domestic violence or illegal weapons charges
• Potential ineligibility for student loans and other government benefits
• Difficulty paying expensive fines and court fees
• Difficulty getting into certain colleges and universities

A misdemeanor record curtails your options in life and can put limits on your future. Don’t let it happen without a fight and the opportunity to have your day in court. Reach out to Daniel, Daniel, & Newman today for a free, confidential case review.

Are Traffic Offenses Misdemeanors?

Some traffic offenses in Tennessee are misdemeanors, while more serious traffic offenses are felonies and less serious offenses are classed as traffic infractions rather than crimes.

Misdemeanor traffic offenses in Tennessee include the following:

Can a Misdemeanor Conviction Be Sealed?

In some cases, a Tennessee court can order your conviction to be expunged or sealed, which deletes all case records. After your conviction is sealed, landlords and employers can no longer find it in a criminal background check.

However, not all crimes can be expunged. You can only get a Tennessee misdemeanor expunged if:

• You have only been convicted of one offense or two convictions arising from the same incident
• Your offense was nonviolent
• You haven’t been arrested or charged with anything since your conviction
• Your offense was not a DUI
• It has been at least five years since you completed your sentence
• You have paid all relevant court fees, including the $100 expungement fee

You can have the record of your arrest and charges expunged if:

• A court dismissed the charges against you
• You were arrested but not charged
• A grand jury investigated you but returned a finding of “no true bill”
• The prosecutor decided not to pursue charges
• A court denied an order of protection against you
• You were charged but acquitted

You can also have your record sealed if you complete a judicial or pretrial diversion program.

What to Expect If You’ve Been Arrested on Misdemeanor Charges

If you are arrested on misdemeanor charges in Grainger County, Tennessee, the police will book you and inform you of your charges. Booking you includes the following:

• Taking your fingerprints
• Photographing you
• Searching you
• Taking down your personal information

After the police book you, the court system will go through a series of steps, including:

• Arraignment – This is your first appearance in court. The court will give you a copy of the charges against you, read the charges to you, and ask you to enter a plea. The court may release you on bail or your own recognizance. The court will also set the next court date and inform you that you have the right to an attorney.
• Pretrial Proceedings – This period includes everything that happens before the trial begins. The prosecutor and defense attorney will share evidence during the discovery process and may attempt to negotiate a plea bargain on the charges.
• Trial – If the prosecutor and the defense attorney cannot reach a plea agreement, the case proceeds to trial. The prosecuting attorney attempts to convince the judge or jury that the defendant is guilty, and the defense attorney attempts to raise doubt about the defendant’s guilt. At the end of the trial, the court returns a guilty or not guilty verdict.
• Sentencing – If the court finds you guilty of a misdemeanor, the final step is sentencing. Your sentence will depend on the class of misdemeanor for which you are convicted.

Contact a Grainger County Misdemeanor Attorney Today

Whatever the facts of your case may be, if you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor in Grainger County and Eastern Tennessee, you need a seasoned criminal defense attorney.

Suppose you intend to plead not guilty and fight the charges. In that case, Evan Newman, a reputable misdemeanor defense attorney, can help you gather evidence, interview witnesses, and present a strong defense against your charges. If you plan to plead guilty, he can negotiate a plea bargain with prosecutors to get you the best outcome possible, depending on the circumstances. You could also be able to get your charges or penalties reduced before agreeing to plead guilty, though, which would be a sizeable advantage.

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor in Grainger County, contact Daniel, Daniel, & Newman immediately for your free, confidential consultation and case review. We are a long-trusted local criminal defense law firm in Grainger County, Tennessee, and we want to protect your rights.