Assault Attorney in Chattanooga

Defending Chattanooga Assault Charges Since 2010, With 70+ Years of Combined Experience

Speek, Turner & Newkirk PLLC has defended clients facing criminal charges in Chattanooga and Hamilton County since 2010. If you’ve been charged with assault, the path forward depends on exactly what you’re charged with and what the evidence actually shows. We help you understand both before your first court date.

Facing an assault charge in Chattanooga? Call our assault attorneys at (423) 436-8506 to schedule a free initial consultation. Same-day appointments are available.

Simple Assault Under Tennessee Law

Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-101 defines three ways a person can be charged with simple assault: intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person; intentionally or knowingly causing someone to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; or intentionally or knowingly making physical contact a reasonable person would regard as extremely offensive or provocative.

The charge level depends on what actually happened. Causing bodily injury or placing someone in fear of imminent injury is generally a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Offensive or provocative contact without injury is typically charged as a Class B misdemeanor, with a maximum of 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $500. That distinction matters from day one of your case.

When an Assault Charge Becomes a Felony

Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-102 elevates assault to aggravated assault when the conduct involves serious bodily injury, the use or display of a deadly weapon, or strangulation. At that point, the charge becomes a felony with significantly different consequences.

The specific classification turns on intent. Intentional or knowing aggravated assault is generally a Class C felony, carrying 3 to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Reckless aggravated assault is typically a Class D felony, with a sentencing range of 2 to 12 years and fines up to $5,000. When the alleged victim is a law enforcement officer, the maximum fine rises to $15,000. Which version of the charge you’re facing shapes every decision your defense team makes.

How Assault Cases Move Through Hamilton County Courts

After an assault arrest, your case typically begins in Hamilton County General Sessions Court, Criminal Division. That court handles your first appearance, bond hearing, and, if the charge is a misdemeanor, the resolution of your case. For felony assault charges, General Sessions conducts a preliminary hearing to determine whether probable cause exists to proceed.

If a felony charge survives the preliminary hearing, it goes to the Grand Jury. An indictment sends the case to Hamilton County Criminal Court, where felony prosecutions are tried. One important note: when an assault occurs between household or family members, Tennessee law treats it as domestic assault, which triggers different charging procedures and restrictions such as no-contact orders. That topic is covered separately on our domestic violence page.

Defenses to an Assault Charge in Tennessee

Several defenses may apply depending on the circumstances. Tennessee Code Annotated 39-11-611, the state’s stand-your-ground statute, provides that a person not engaged in unlawful activity and in a place they have a legal right to be has no duty to retreat before using force they reasonably believe is immediately necessary to protect against another person’s unlawful force. When the evidence supports it, this can be a significant defense.

Other defenses our assault lawyers in Chattanooga evaluate include:

• Lack of intent: Whether the act was truly intentional, knowing, or reckless as the charge requires
• Disputed injury or weapon: Challenging whether a serious bodily injury occurred or whether a deadly weapon was present
• Mutual combat or provocation: Whether the alleged victim’s own conduct is relevant to the defense

We don’t promise specific outcomes. What we do is build the strongest case the facts allow.

Our Team-Based Approach to Assault Defense

Speek, Turner & Newkirk PLLC brings more than 70 years of combined attorney experience to every case. Rather than assigning one lawyer to work a file in isolation, we use a team-based approach in which multiple attorneys review the charges and evidence together. When the stakes include a felony conviction, that extra review can surface arguments a solo pass might miss.

We’ve practiced in this community since 2010, appearing regularly in Hamilton County’s courts and working alongside the prosecutors and judges who handle these cases. That familiarity with local procedure is something our clients rely on from the first hearing forward.

What a Conviction Can Cost You Beyond the Courtroom

Jail time and fines are only part of the picture. A criminal record from an assault conviction can surface in background checks run by employers, landlords, and educational institutions. Certain convictions also affect firearm possession rights. For non-citizens, a conviction can trigger immigration consequences entirely separate from the criminal penalties. Professional licensing boards in fields such as healthcare, law, and education may suspend or revoke credentials based on a criminal record.

Tennessee law does allow expungement of certain eligible offenses. Whether your charge qualifies is something we can advise on directly during your consultation.

Talk to a Chattanooga Assault Lawyer Today

We offer free initial consultations for criminal defense matters, including assault charges at every level. Same-day appointments are available, and we work with flexible payment plans so legal representation isn’t out of reach. Our team also works with translators to serve clients in their native languages, including Spanish.

Don’t face Hamilton County’s courts without counsel who knows them. Call Speek, Turner & Newkirk PLLC at (423) 436-8506 to speak with an assault attorney in Chattanooga today.