Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney
In the State of Tennessee, Criminal Charges involve serious consequences. They can require jail time, payment of fines or restitution, and can have lasting impacts on your life. If you have been arrested for a criminal charge, your first decision needs to be speaking to an experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer. Attorney Oscar Butler has spent the last 7 years handling exclusively criminal cases and has the experience to get you the best result possible.
Criminal Charges in Tennessee
Being charged with a crime in Tennessee does not mean the case is already decided. The arrest report, citation, or warrant may only tell one version of what happened. Important details may still need to be reviewed, including witness statements, body camera footage, search issues, officer observations, alleged victim statements, and the surrounding circumstances.
Criminal defense cases can include DUI charges, drug offenses, violent crime allegations, theft and property crimes, firearm charges, traffic-related criminal offenses, and other misdemeanor or felony cases. Each charge carries its own risks and possible outcomes, which is why the case should be reviewed carefully from the beginning by a criminal defense attorney who understands the court process.
That is why the first step is understanding exactly what the State is alleging. Attorney Oscar Butler helps clients review the charge, the facts behind the accusation, how law enforcement became involved, and what evidence may matter as the case moves forward.
What to Expect After Being Charged With a Crime
If you have been arrested for a criminal charge, you need to call an experienced criminal defense lawyer, like Attorney Oscar Butler. During that call, you can expect Oscar to go over the details of your case from the beginning to end.
First, you will discuss the specific charge or charges you are facing and whether the case is being handled as a misdemeanor or felony. Butler Law represents clients in a wide range of criminal defense matters, including:
Domestic Assault and Simple Assault
Drug charges, including simple possession and possession with intent
Fraud
Robbery
Second, you will discuss the background information from the alleged offense. Where were you? Who were you with? How did law enforcement get involved? This information is critical to guaranteeing all witnesses are discovered and potential evidence is gathered.
Third, you can expect to discuss the potential range of punishments for the specific charge. Depending on whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor, it’s important you understand the potential range of punishment to understand the potential of a negotiated resolution.
Finally, you can expect to discuss some personal information about you and your background. This just allows for us to represent you better as our focus immediately will be separating you from the alleged facts from the officer.
The goal is to understand the case early, identify the details that matter, and begin moving forward with a clear defense strategy.
Bond Conditions After an Arrest
When you have been arrested for a crime, you may have certain bond conditions to obey while the case is pending.
Common Bond Conditions:
Upon being released from jail, required to report to pretrial within 72 hours of your release.
Pretrial is a supervising entity that may monitor you while the case is pending. You could also be required to report to a pretrial or probation officer consistently during the case.
Could be required to stay away from the alleged victims or witnesses.
Alcohol & Drug Assessment
Alcohol and Drug Screens
Butler Law helps clients understand their bond conditions early so they know what is required, what to avoid, and how to keep the case moving in the right direction.
Court Appearances & Possible Resolutions
Your first court date is coming up. What can you expect?
Arraignment
The first court date you will have is called the Arraignment. On that day, the Judge will make sure you are aware of the charges against you, and that you understand you have the right to an attorney.
If you cannot afford an attorney, the Court can appoint one for you.
If possible, Butler Law will normally try to waive your arraignment date so that you’re not required to be in Court. We routinely waive this date because we will discuss with you your charges and once we are retained to be your attorney, there is no need to have the Court tell you that you have the right to to an attorney.
This court date is usually very quick and is more about scheduling the next court date.
Other Court Dates and Possible Resolutions
After your arraignment date, the next couple of court dates are usually “Status” dates. On these court dates Attorney Oscar Butler will be discussing and negotiating your case with the Attorney for the State of Tennessee. We will be discussing whether all the evidence has been gathered, whether there are legal issues or personal components that provide leverage, and ultimately possible resolutions. The State will normally make an offer to resolve your case short of having to have a preliminary hearing or jury trial.
At Butler Law, we fight to get you the best result possible. At the end of the day, the decision to accept any offer from the State is yours. Our job is to get the best negotiated resolution, bring that offer to you, and assist you in making an informed decision from there.
There are many possible resolutions in a Criminal case:
Dismissal
Reduction from Felony to Misdemeanor
Reduction in length of jail time or probation.
Dismissal by use of Judicial Diversion
Conviction as charged.
While we cannot guarantee a specific result, our success comes from years of experience and training handling Criminal cases in both General Sessions and Criminal Court. Do not wait any longer, call Butler Law now to get started on your case!
Serving East Tennessee
Butler Law represents clients facing criminal charges throughout East Tennessee, including:
Knox County (Knoxville)
Blount County (Maryville)
Sevier County (Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg)
Loudon County (Lenoir City)
Jefferson County (Jefferson City)
Anderson County (Oak Ridge)
Rutherford County (Murfreesboro)
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you are arrested, it is important to take a deep breath and handle the situation carefully. Avoid talking about the case with law enforcement, alleged victims, or making statements online until you have spoken with a criminal defense attorney. Butler Law helps clients review the charge, understand the risks, and make informed decisions as the case moves forward.
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In Tennessee, misdemeanors are generally lower-level criminal offenses, while felonies are more serious charges. A misdemeanor can still carry jail time, fines, probation, and a criminal record. A felony can carry prison exposure, higher penalties, and more serious long-term consequences. The difference matters because it affects the possible punishment, how the case may be negotiated, and what impact a conviction can have on your future. Butler Law helps clients understand what they charged with and the best paths forward in their case.
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Sometimes. Whether a charge can be dismissed or reduced depends on the facts, the evidence, the person’s background, the charge itself, and whether there are weaknesses in the State’s case. In some cases, the goal may be dismissal. In others, the best available result may be a reduction, diversion where available, or another negotiated resolution that limits the long-term impact of the charges.
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Judicial diversion may allow certain qualified defendants to resolve a case without a judgment of guilt being entered if they successfully complete the conditions set by the court. Tennessee’s judicial diversion statute allows a court to defer proceedings and place a qualified defendant on probation without entering a judgment of guilty, but it is not available in every case.
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Attorney Oscar Butler helps clients review the facts of the case, identify important details, and make informed decisions about how to move forward. Depending on the situation, that may involve challenging the charge, negotiating a better resolution, or preparing the case for further court proceedings. The goal is to pursue the best possible outcome in your case.
Why Clients Choose Butler Law
Attorney Oscar Butler is a former Knox County prosecutor with experience handling criminal cases from both sides of the courtroom. After prosecuting serious offenses in Knox County and later defending clients in private practice, he founded Butler Law to provide focused criminal defense representation for clients in Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee area.
Clients turn to Butler Law because they want an experienced attorney who understands how criminal cases are charged, evaluated, and negotiated, and who can build a defense strategy around the actual facts of the matter.
Attorney Butler is committed to achieving the best possible results for each client. He leverages his prosecutorial insight to develop aggressive defenses aimed at reducing charges, securing dismissals where appropriate, and minimizing the long-term impact on your life and record.
Payment Plans Available
At Butler Law, we understand that legal representation is a financial investment. We provide interest free payment plan options to help with the investment. We want to work with you, and we don’t want finances to get in the way.
Referral Network
If Butler Law can’t handle your case or request, our referral network is full of law firms who may be able to assist. Contact us today so we can get you in contact with the Attorney best suited to handle your case.
Need a Criminal Defense Attorney in Knoxville?
Reach out today for a completely free consultation. You can call, email us, or fill out this online inquiry. Once you have submitted the requested information, we will contact you to schedule a time to discuss your legal needs. We look forward to hearing from you soon!