Examples of Recent Criminal Defense Victories
State of Tennessee v. Johnathan Ladd
Williamson County Criminal Court Case Number 1-CR022433
Disposition: Not Guilty.
The night of September 9, 2006 began quietly for my client Johnathon Ladd. He had put in a full day at his work in construction. He came home ready for a nice evening with his girlfriend. It was early in the evening when the pair left to have dinner at the home of some friends. They were pulled over near Franklin, Tennesse by a Williamson County Sheriff’s deputy for an alleged traffic violation. The deputy proceeded to search their car. When a small amount of marijuana was discovered on my client, the deputy arrested him for simple possession of marijuana and transported to the Williamson County Jail. When they arrived at the jail, my client was searched yet again and another small quantity of marijuana was found on his person. At this point, the deputy charged my client with the felony offense of “Introducing Contraband into a Penal Facility.”
After a hard-fought, two-day trial in November 2007, a Williamson County jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the felony charge. My client and I are grateful to the jury members who performed their duty in this case and saw that justice was served.
State of Tennessee v. Andrea Andrews
Dickson County Criminal Court Case Number: CR9141
Disposition: Pretrial Diversion.
My client Andrea Andrews was charged with criminally negligent homicide, a class E Felony. The charge against her stemmed from the tragic death of a young man, a minor, from the Charlotte, Tennessee area on February 25, 2007. The victim was involved in a single car accident. Police concluded that alcohol had played a role and alleged that my client had some responsibility in the young man’s having the alcohol.
My firm fully investigated this case and interviewed many witnesses. We were prepared to try the case to a jury in December 2007.
However, the trial never took place because we were able to secure an offer from the State of Tennessee which allows the charge against my client to be dismissed after a year’s time. Pretrial Diversion, as its name implies, is a diversion by the state of charges that, if all goes as expected, results in the dismissal of the charges. In December 2008, the charge against my client will be dismissed. She will have no criminal record. I attribute this excellent outcome for our client to hard work and trial preparation. There is no substitute for doing your homework.
