Criminal Defense Attorney in Franklin, TN
Serving Franklin & Williamson County Since 1997, with Over 100 Years of Combined Experience
If you or a loved one has been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor, don’t wait to get help. Contact our team to find out how we can defend your rights and fight for your future.
Puryear, Newman & Morton, PLLC has represented Franklin and Middle Tennessee clients facing criminal charges since 1997. Our criminal defense attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined legal experience to every case, handling the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including matters where a client is under investigation before formal charges are ever filed. That early stage is often the most critical: the decisions made before arraignment can shape everything that follows.
A criminal charge rarely stays contained to one area of your life. A DUI can affect a custody arrangement. A drug charge can threaten a professional license. A domestic violence allegation can complicate a divorce. As a full-service firm handling criminal defense, family law, real estate, and more, we address the full impact of your situation, not just the charge itself.
Charges Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Handle
- DUI : Driving under the influence can carry serious penalties, including license suspension, mandatory ignition interlock requirements, fines, and jail time that escalate with each offense. Whether this is your first charge or a repeat offense, we can help.
- Domestic Violence and Assault : These charges carry collateral consequences beyond the courtroom, including orders of protection, firearm restrictions, and effects on family court proceedings. We work to build an effective defense and minimize the impact on your personal and professional life.
Franklin & Williamson County Courts: What to Expect
Criminal cases in Franklin follow a specific path through the court system that isn’t always obvious to someone facing charges for the first time. Most matters begin in Williamson County General Sessions Court. Felonies and certain misdemeanors bound over from General Sessions proceed to Williamson County Circuit Court, which sits in the 21st Judicial District. Juvenile delinquency matters are handled separately in Williamson County Juvenile Court, with a focus on rehabilitation over incarceration. For defendants with qualifying substance abuse issues, the 21st Judicial District Drug Court offers a treatment-based alternative to traditional prosecution.
Our attorneys have practiced in these courts for over 20 years. We know the local prosecutors, judges, and procedural culture that shapes how cases move and how negotiations unfold. Firm leaders are active in organizations throughout Williamson County, and that community investment is reflected in how we approach every client relationship. Whether your case resolves in General Sessions or goes to Circuit Court, we provide informed, effective representation at every stage.
- Drug Charges : Drug charges in Tennessee range from misdemeanor simple possession to felony trafficking, and the classification significantly affects sentencing exposure. We defend all types of drug charges, including possession, manufacture, sale, and distribution.
- Juvenile Crimes : Juvenile delinquency proceedings in Tennessee focus on rehabilitation over incarceration. We advocate for non-incarceration outcomes and work to keep your child’s record and future as protected as possible.
- Probation Violations : A probation violation finding can result in the court revoking probation and imposing the original suspended sentence. We work to minimize consequences and advocate for your freedom.
No matter what you’ve been charged with, building your defense strategy as early as possible gives you the most options. Attorney involvement before arraignment, and sometimes before formal charges are filed, often opens doors that close quickly as a case progresses. Every criminal charge, misdemeanor or felony, carries real consequences for employment, licensing, housing, and family matters. Our criminal defense attorneys vigorously advocate for each client’s rights at every stage, and our more than 100 years of combined experience means we bring substantive knowledge to each area of law your situation involves.
Our criminal defense attorneys in Franklin, TN have the experience you need on your side. Call us today at (615) 933-2366 to request a consultation.
Criminal Law Matters We Handle
Misdemeanor Defense in Franklin and Middle Tennessee
Misdemeanor charges cover a range of offenses, including possession of small amounts of controlled substances, public intoxication, and other non-violent crimes. The penalties aren’t as severe as those for felonies, but they aren’t minor either: a conviction can mean jail time, fines, and court costs. More consequentially, a misdemeanor conviction becomes a permanent part of your criminal record and can affect future employment, professional licensing, housing applications, and security clearances. The sooner you consult a criminal defense lawyer after a misdemeanor charge in Franklin, the more options you may have for fighting, reducing, or seeking dismissal of the charge before it results in a conviction. Our attorneys have more than 20 years of experience defending clients charged with misdemeanor crimes in Franklin and Middle Tennessee.
Aggressive Felony Defense in Franklin, TN
Felony charges carry consequences that outlast the sentence itself. Tennessee classifies felonies into five classes, and where a charge falls shapes everything from sentencing exposure to the collateral consequences that follow. Beyond incarceration, a felony conviction can result in the loss of voting rights during incarceration and supervision, restrictions on firearm ownership, barriers to employment and professional licensing, and immigration consequences that persist long after the case closes. We represent clients from the point of investigation through resolution, engaging defense strategy at the earliest possible stage.
Tennessee’s Felony Classification System
- Class A: The most serious standard felony class. A Class A felony can result in 15 to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. First-degree murder sits above the standard A-through-E system and carries its own penalties, including the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
- Class B: Carries a prison sentence of 8 to 30 years and fines up to $25,000.
- Class C: Offenses such as theft of more than $10,000 but less than $60,000 can be charged as a Class C felony, carrying up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Class D: Certain controlled substance offenses, including possession of marijuana, can warrant a Class D felony charge, with a maximum of 12 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
- Class E: The least severe felony classification. Class E charges carry a maximum of six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.
Facing a criminal charge in Middle Tennessee? Contact Puryear, Newman & Morton, PLLC today to speak with an attorney about your case.
Our Criminal Defense Attorneys
A Reputation for Excellence
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ExperienceOur attorneys have over 100 years of combined legal experience.
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DedicatedOur attorneys are dedicated to serving the needs of it's clients in a professional, ethical, and caring manner.
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DiverseWe are a full-service law firm with skilled attorneys who have years of experience handling specific areas of law.
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Rooted In the CommunityOur firm has been serving the people of Franklin for over 20 years and have an excellent reputation within the community.