Our client was a gentleman who was accused of threatening a teenager with a gun. Someone had been ringing doorbells and running off in our client’s neighborhood, including several times at his home. When it happened again, our client investigated and found someone hiding in some bushes. When he discovered that it was a teenager, he gave the teen a ride back to the house where the teen was staying. The teen accused our client of threatening him with a gun, but we were able to show the jury that the teen’s story was not credible.

Charges: Aggravated Assault, Class C Felony

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: 2-15 years

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Our client was originally charged with attempted first-degree murder. He was found not guilty in the first trial we represented him in last year. The State thereafter pursued charges against him for felon in possession. We argued that the prosecution was prohibited by law, which prohibits charging felon in possession if the gun was used in self-defense. The jury returned its verdict in less than 30 minutes.

Charges: Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Class E Felony)

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: 1-6 years; maximum fine of $3,000

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Our client was an employee of a multi-billion dollar company charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in Federal Court. We went to the mat and tried the case. The Jury returned a NOT GUILTY verdict after a three month long trial.

Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

Level: Federal Court

Penalties Faced: Up to 20 years in Federal Prison

Verdict: Not Guilty on four out of five counts after a 3 month trial. We appealed the conviction on the final count and won. The government then agreed not to prosecute a second time.

Our client was a 20 year old man accused of rape.

Charges: Rape

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: Eight to twelve years in prison with no parole, lifetime on the sex offender registry, and community supervision for life

Verdict: Not Guilty after a three-day trial.

We were ready to defend our client when he came to us facing life in prison. We evaluated his options and prepared for the case to go to trial.

Charges: Murder

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: Life Sentence

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Our client was facing criminal charges as a habitual offender seeking guidance.  We fought for his rights and negotiated hard. All charges were dismissed.

Charges: Three Strikes / Habitual Crime

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: Life Sentence

Verdict: Charges Dismissed.

Our client was facing petty larceny charges. We prepared a strong case and were able to convince the jury to give our client a not guilty verdict.

Charges: Grand Larceny

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: 5 years

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Our client was charged with aggravated kidnapping. He came to us facing 20 years. We obtained a not guilty verdict for him.

Charges: Aggravated Kidnapping

Level: State Court

Penalties Faced: 20 years

Verdict: Not Guilty

Our client was charged with federal firearms violations. He was facing up to 5 years in federal prison, but we were able to persuade the jury that he deserved a verdict of not guilty.

Charges: Firearms Violations

Level: Federal Court

Penalties Faced: 5 years

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Our client was charged with federal cocaine conspiracy. Facing up to 20 years we were able to prepare a case that resulted in a not guilty verdict.

Charges: Cocaine Conspiracy

Level: Federal Court

Penalties Faced: 20 years

Verdict: Not Guilty.

Our client came to us having been dealt lengthy sentences for multiple controlled substance, robbery, and firearms convictions. We appealed his sentence.

Sentencing Appeal:

Level: Federal Court

Sentenced: lengthy

Outcome: Minimum 136 month sentence reduction

Our client had been convicted of possession of two firearms while being a convicted felon facing enhanced penalties because the firearms were discovered at his home along with controlled substances. We argued  the drugs were coincidental to the firearms charges. The Court agreed.

Charges: Possession of firearms by a felon with enhanced sentencing potential

Level: Federal Court

Sentenced: 24-30 months

Outcome: 18 months - no sentence enhancement

Our client's first degree murder trial ended with deadlocked jury.  Convicted in her second trial, that conviction is thrown out and a new trial granted due to a structural error in client's trial created by the judge's opioid addiction and misconduct.

Charges: First degree murder

Level: State Court

Sentenced: Life

Outcome: Trial 1: Deadlocked Jury; Trial 2: conviction overturned due to structural error created by judicial misconduct.

Our client was a 2007 convict for the beating death and assault of a man and the assault of his sister and nephew. At trial, the state offered only eyewitness testimony which was not challenged by our client's counsel.

Charges: First degree murder

Level: State Court

Sentence: Overturned; Court found our client did not receive effective representation of counsel from his original trial attorneys in violation of his 6th Amendment right

Outcome: Client subject to release after 8 years. State may chose to retry him at a later time.

Our client was blood tested with a .17 BAC. We tried the case in September 2023.

Charges: DUI, Speeding

Level: State Court

Sentence: Overturned; Court found our client did not receive effective representation of counsel from his original trial attorneys in violation of his 6th Amendment right

Outcome: Acquitted on all counts except speeding.

Charges: Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Level: State Court

Outcome: Jury found client not guilty.

Our client was killed when he was shot in the back by police as he was fleeing a non-violent act of leaving the scene of an accident.  Mr. Pheap's family sued and we helped.  We were not able to acquire justice for Mr. Pheap's family but his death was not in vain.

Level: State Court

Outcome: Public outcry and the court's decision to allow the civil suit to move forward resulted in legislation requiring the use of body cameras for all law enforcement interacting with the public in Knoxville creating a greater level of justice for potentially thousands of individuals who may come in contact with law enforcement in the future.