Posted on November 10, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Selling guns online can lead to federal charges if you run a gun sales business without a license or break the rules for sales across state lines. You can also face charges if you sell to someone you know or have reason to believe cannot legally receive a gun. However, listing a gun online is not itself a federal crime. The law distinguishes private sales from a resale business. If you face an investigation in 2026, a Union County, TN federal weapons charges defense lawyer can examine what prosecutors must prove.

When Do Online Gun Sales Require a Federal Firearms License?

Under 18 U.S.C. § 922, people engaged in the business of dealing firearms need a federal firearms license (FFL). Congress changed the definition in 2022. Under 18 U.S.C. § 921, a dealer regularly buys and resells firearms mainly to earn a profit. The sales do not have to provide the person's main income. However, occasional hobby sales and selling a personal collection are excluded.

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 Posted on October 26, 2026 in Drug Crimes

Sharing controlled prescription medication can lead to criminal charges in Tennessee. However, the offense is not automatically a felony. State law distinguishes a casual exchange from more serious drug delivery. The circumstances determine which charge applies. The person receiving the medication can also face possession charges in 2026. A Knox County drug crimes defense lawyer can explain what the State would actually have to prove.

Is Giving Someone Prescription Medication Illegal in Tennessee?

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417, it is illegal to knowingly make, deliver, or sell controlled substances, or to possess them with the intent to do so.

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 Posted on October 11, 2026 in DUI/DWI/BUI

A DUI charge becomes more serious when a child under 18 is in the vehicle. Tennessee law adds extra jail time and a separate fine, and the penalties increase further if the child suffers serious bodily injury or loses their life. If you are accused of DUI with a child passenger in 2026, an Anderson County, TN criminal defense lawyer can explain the charges and possible defenses.

How Much Jail Time Does a Tennessee DUI With a Child Carry?

Tennessee builds the enhancement directly into its DUI penalty statute. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-402, a person convicted of DUI who was accompanied by a passenger under 18 adds at least 30 days in jail. That 30 days is served in addition to any incarceration imposed for the DUI itself. A first DUI already carries a mandatory 48 hours, so the two stack rather than overlap.

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 Posted on September 28, 2026 in Domestic Violence

When both people in a domestic dispute tell police they were the victim, Tennessee law does not allow officers to simply arrest everyone and let the court figure it out. The officer is required to try to determine who the primary aggressor was. In practice, officers get this wrong often enough that people who were defending themselves end up in handcuffs. 

If this happened to you in 2026, a Blount County, TN criminal defense lawyer can work to show the arrest named the wrong person.

How Do Police Decide Who to Arrest When Both People Claim to Be the Victim in a Domestic Dispute?

Officers decide who to arrest in a domestic dispute by identifying the primary aggressor, a process spelled out in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-3-619. When two or more people are accused, or two or more people make complaints, the officer must try to determine who was the primary aggressor based on the circumstances of the incident.

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 Posted on September 14, 2026 in Sex Crimes

In Tennessee, you, the alleged victim, or both of you being drunk or high is not a good legal defense against a rape charge. If you are facing a rape charge in 2026, our Union County, TN criminal defense lawyer can help you understand what defenses may actually apply to your case.

Does Tennessee Law Make Being Drunk or High a Defense Against Rape Charges? 

Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-11-503, being drunk or high does not automatically excuse someone from a rape or sexual assault charge. In other words, someone can’t defend themselves by simply saying they were intoxicated at the time.

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 Posted on August 22, 2026 in Criminal Defense

A murder case goes to federal court when certain things trigger federal power over the case. This can happen if the crime took place on federal property. It can also happen if the crime involved a federal official, or if it crossed state lines in a way tied to federal law.

If you're facing this type of charge in 2026, our Knox County, TN federal violent crimes defense lawyer can help you understand why your case is federal and what your options are.

What Makes a Murder Case Federal Rather Than State?

Most murder cases are prosecuted under state law. However, under 18 U.S.C. Section 1111, murder is a federal offense when it occurs within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 7, this can include certain federal lands and other places under federal jurisdiction. Other federal laws can apply based on who was killed or the circumstances surrounding the crime.

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 Posted on August 11, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Tennessee has strict drug possession laws, with penalties that can range from a misdemeanor to a serious felony depending on the type and amount of the substance involved. It might surprise you how quickly a possession charge can escalate under Tennessee law, especially when the amount found suggests something more than personal use.

If you're facing a drug possession charge in 2026, our Knox County, TN, drug crimes defense lawyer can help you understand the charges against you and the defense options available to you.

How Does Tennessee Classify Drug Possession Charges?

Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-418, simple possession of a controlled substance for personal use is generally charged as a Class A misdemeanor. This can carry up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. While this may sound less serious than a felony, a misdemeanor conviction still creates a criminal record that can affect employment, housing, and other areas of life.

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 Posted on July 24, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Stalking in Tennessee involves a pattern of repeated, unwanted contact or conduct directed at a specific person. This pattern must be something that would cause a reasonable person to feel afraid, harassed, or emotionally distressed. A single incident typically isn't enough to meet this legal standard. If you’ve been accused of stalking in 2026, you have the right to challenge that allegation. Our Knox County criminal defense lawyer can help you understand exactly what the state must prove.

How Does Tennessee Law Define Stalking?

Tennessee defines stalking under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-315. This law requires a "course of conduct" involving repeated contact or behavior directed at a specific person. This means the state generally can't build a stalking case around a single phone call, a single unwanted visit, or one uncomfortable interaction.

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 Posted on July 10, 2026 in Criminal Defense

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country, drawing millions of visitors every year from across Tennessee, North Carolina, and beyond. The park is federal land, which means federal laws apply there. A mistake that might result in a minor fine elsewhere can become a federal criminal charge inside park boundaries. If you or someone you love is facing a charge that occurred in the park in 2026, a Knox County, TN federal crimes defense lawyer can help you understand what you are up against.

What Are the Most Common Federal Offenses in the Great Smoky Mountains?

The National Park Service enforces a wide range of regulations inside the park under 36 C.F.R. Part 2, which governs resource protection, public use, and recreation in national parks. Violations of these regulations can result in federal charges ranging from minor infractions to serious misdemeanors and felonies.

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 Posted on June 25, 2026 in DUI/DWI/BUI

Implied consent means that by choosing to drive on Tennessee roads, you have already legally agreed to be tested for alcohol or drugs if you are arrested for DUI. You did not sign anything or say anything out loud. The law treats your decision to drive as an automatic agreement to be tested. If you are facing a DUI charge in 2026 and have questions about implied consent or a test refusal, a Union County, TN DUI defense lawyer can help you understand your rights and your options.

Where Does Tennessee's Implied Consent Law Come From?

Tennessee's implied consent law is found in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 55-10-406. Under this law, anyone who drives on a public road in Tennessee is considered to have already agreed to a chemical test of their blood, breath, or urine if they are arrested for DUI.

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