Criminal Defense

Joseph Fuson, Esq. handles all types of misdemeanor and felony cases, including:

Assault, Arson, Vandalism, Driving under the Influence (see DUI below), Reckless driving, Theft, Robbery, Burglary, Weapons Charges, Gambling, Disorderly Conduct, Simple Possession, Felony drug offenses (See Drug Cases below), School Zone Violations, Sex crimes (see Sex Crimes below), Probation Violations, Evading Arrest, Resisting arrest, Domestic Violence, Bribery, Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, Invasion of Privacy and most other criminal offenses under Tennessee Law.

DUI

Driving Under the Influence has become one of the most feared criminal charges for the everyday person, and rightfully so. Under current Tennessee Law, a DUI carries punishments of loss of license, jail time, fines and community service. For second and third time offenders the punishment is even harsher. Also, DUI is not capable of being expunged from your record if you plead guilty or are convicted in a court of law. New law enacted in 2010, requires ignition interlock devices to be installed in your vehicle if you blew over .15, had a child in the vehicle, were involved in a wreck, or have multiple DUI convictions. Remember, the moments after your are stopped by police are the most important to a good defense.

Joseph Fuson, Esq. is dedicated to defending individuals who have been charged with alcohol related driving offenses, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI). We are providing these tips to help educate people on the what to do if they have been drinking and are pulled over by a police officer. These are only helpful tips and are based on years of experience representing defendants charged with alcohol related driving offenses. They are no guarantee of any result. Remember, the only way to guarantee that you will not be charged and convicted of a DUI is to avoid drinking and driving.

However, if you do make the choice to drink and drive, do so responsibly and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

Voted # 2 DUI Attorney in Nashville by the Nashville Scene Best of Nashville 2008! Available for consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by mobile phone at 615-717-5176.

DRUG CASES

We have spent a large portion of the past five (5) years defending people who have been charged with possessing illegal drugs, sale and/or manufactoring illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia. The cases are fact intensive and require the services of a skilled and aggressive attorney to be successful.

Many of the drug seizures occur as the result of a search warrant, traffic stop, controlled buy, or K-9 intervention. Many times the police officers use the K-9 to pressure drivers into consenting to a search, while other times officers will simply call the K-9 unit to assist in a traffic stop even when there is no probable cause to detain the driver. Use of K-9 dogs in traffic stops on the interstate and around town has increased and the use of the dogs in many cases in is violation of the 4th Amendment. Additionally, in many instances the search warrants used by officer to search a residence are unlawful. Challenging these searches, challenging the use of the K-9 dogs, and fighting for your right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure in all aspects is what we do best. If you are charged with a drug related offense, obtaining a lawyer who knows how to fight these cases is the most important decision you can make if charged.

Confidential informants are also used in many drug arrests and serve as the basis for many indictments. These informants are most often drug users, , former criminals, or even the drug dealers themselves. A skilled attorney can properly defend your case by exposing the holes in testimony, as well as the credibility of the informant.

School Zone Violations are a very scary due to the severe nature of the punishment and are very common in Davidson County. If you are convicted by a jury, you will face increased range of sentencing and be required to serve 100% of your time. Having the right attorney who can properly advise you on these issues is imperative. Being an effective advocate and properly preparing the case can often be the difference between a reasonable plea agreement and facing a very long jail sentence.

Joseph Fuson handles drug cases in Davidson County, Williamson County, Rutherford County, Maury County, Robertson County, Cheatham County, Dickson County, Wilson County and Sumner County.

SEX CRIMES

Sex crimes handled by this law office include rape, statutory rape, statutory rape by an authority figure, mitigated statutory rape, sexual battery, prostitution, promoting prostitution, sex offender registry violations and various other misdemeanor sex crimes.

Hiring the right attorney to represent you is critical in obtaining a favorable result in these types of cases. Often they involve issues that can stain a defendant’s reputation regardless of the merits of the allegations made by the victim. Also, these cases are a focal point of local media, sometimes national media, and will require the services of attorney when dealing with the media. Sometimes the best thing to do is say nothing, other times it is best to address the media head-on in an ethical manner. You will need someone in your corner with experience and a reputation that will give you the best chance of defending the charges against you and dealing with the other issues that surround sex crimes.