Violent Crimes
Assault. Robbery. Homicide. The cases the State wants you to plead.
Charged with a Violent Crime in Nashville? Your Freedom Depends on What Happens Next.
Violent-crime charges are the most serious cases in Tennessee’s criminal system. Prosecutors push for maximum sentences. Witnesses may not be reliable. Evidence may be circumstantial. And the media sometimes gets involved before the jury does.
I’m Nathan Cate. I’ve defended clients against assault, domestic violence, robbery, aggravated charges, and homicide in Middle Tennessee courts. You need someone who has stood next to people accused of violence in front of Davidson County juries — and won.
Free consultation. Call (615) 664-8083. Available 24/7.
Violent Crimes I Defend
Simple Assault — Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101
Class A or B Misdemeanor depending on circumstances. Bodily injury, fear of imminent injury, or offensive contact.
- Penalties: Up to 11 months, 29 days jail, up to $2,500 fine
Aggravated Assault — Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102
This is where things turn felony. Aggravated assault includes serious bodily injury, use of a deadly weapon, or assault against a protected class (officer, first responder, spouse).
- Class C Felony: 3–15 years
- Class D Felony: 2–12 years (for certain subtypes)
Domestic Assault — Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-111
Assault against a family or household member. Even a first offense carries mandatory consequences — firearm prohibition, mandatory jail time on conviction, and a permanent “domestic violence” marker that cannot be expunged in the same way ordinary charges can.
Robbery — Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-401
Theft by force or threat of force. Class C Felony (8–30 years). Aggravated Robbery (weapon or serious bodily injury) is a Class B Felony (12–30 years) — and carries mandatory service of at least 85% of the sentence.
Aggravated Kidnapping / Especially Aggravated Kidnapping
Class B or A Felony depending on facts. These often get charged alongside other violent offenses and carry some of the longest ranges in Tennessee law.
Attempted Murder / Criminal Homicide
First and second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, criminally negligent homicide. These are the most serious cases a criminal defense lawyer handles. Sentences range from 2 years to life without parole.
How I Fight Violent Crime Cases
1. Self-defense
Tennessee has broad self-defense laws (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-611). You can use force to defend yourself, and deadly force to defend against serious bodily injury or the commission of certain felonies — in your home, your business, or anywhere you have a right to be. The State must disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt once it’s fairly raised.
2. Defense of others
You can use the same force to defend another person as you could use to defend yourself.
3. Mistaken identity
Eyewitness testimony is the least reliable and most common source of wrongful convictions. Cross-racial IDs, stress at the scene, suggestive police lineups — I challenge every identification.
4. Lack of intent
Most violent crimes require intentional or knowing conduct. An accident, a reflex, a mutual physical altercation — none of those is the same as a planned attack. I press the State to prove intent.
5. Victim recantation / credibility
In domestic cases especially, the alleged victim’s story often changes between the 911 call and the trial. Prior inconsistent statements, motive to fabricate, 911 audio that contradicts the later account — all fair game.
6. Constitutional violations
Miranda violations. Illegal searches. Suggestive lineups. Failure to preserve exculpatory evidence. Every violent case gets reviewed for these.
Domestic Violence — Why It’s Different
If you’ve been charged with domestic assault, you need a lawyer today. Here’s why:
- An Order of Protection can be entered the same day you’re arrested. You may be barred from your own home and from contact with your spouse and children.
- Federal firearm prohibition attaches on conviction — and sometimes even on Order of Protection entry.
- Mandatory jail time on conviction even for first offense.
- Domestic violence convictions are treated differently for expungement than ordinary assaults.
- Immigration consequences are severe for non-citizens.
Do not contact the alleged victim. Do not violate an Order of Protection. Do not post about the case on social media. Call me first.
What to Expect in Davidson County
- Arrest and booking — Metro Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
- Bond hearing — violent felony bonds are high; I push for reduction and release conditions
- General Sessions arraignment
- Preliminary hearing — a major opportunity to cross-examine the State’s key witness early
- Grand jury indictment — felonies get bound over to Criminal Court
- Arraignment in Criminal Court
- Discovery and motions — suppression of statements, suppression of ID, in limine motions
- Trial or negotiated plea
Most clients never see a jury. The readiness to go to trial — and the record to back it up — is what gives me leverage to negotiate down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a domestic violence charge be dropped if the alleged victim doesn’t want to press charges?
The decision to prosecute is the State’s, not the alleged victim’s. Prosecutors can and do proceed with uncooperative complaining witnesses. But their case gets much weaker — and that’s where plea leverage lives.
Is self-defense hard to prove in Tennessee?
No — once self-defense is “fairly raised” by evidence, the burden shifts to the State to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s a high burden. Self-defense wins cases.
What happens to my firearms rights?
A felony conviction or certain domestic violence convictions permanently bar you from possessing firearms under federal law. This is why fighting the charge matters so much — even beyond the jail time.
Will this show up on background checks?
Yes. Arrests, pending charges, and convictions all appear. Violent-crime charges are particularly damaging for employment, housing, and custody. Expungement is available for dismissals and certain reduced outcomes — fighting the case is how you get there.
How much does a violent-crime defense cost?
It depends on the charge, the complexity, and whether we go to trial. I offer a free consultation and quote a flat fee or staged fee structure up front. The cost of a conviction — in years of your life and a permanent record — is what matters.
Why Cate Law
- Highly rated by clients on Google
- Trial experience — I try cases, not just plead them
- Middle Tennessee — Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson, Montgomery
Free Violent Crime Consultation
The sooner you call, the more I can do. Don’t give a statement. Don’t wait for the indictment.
📞 Call or text (615) 664-8083
222 2nd Ave N, Suite 220, Nashville, TN 37201
Available 24/7.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every violent crime case depends on its specific facts. Contact Cate Law for a case-specific consultation.
Other Practice Areas
Were you also injured during the same incident — by a bouncer, off-duty officer, or other security personnel? See Injured by Law Enforcement or Security Agents in Tennessee for the parallel civil-side analysis.
For the complete guide to defending a Tennessee criminal case in Davidson County and the surrounding counties, see our Nashville Criminal Defense Attorney overview — the full procedural map from arrest through trial, with every practice area linked.