1st Degree Murder
The most serious charge in Tennessee. Immediate representation matters — what happens in the first days can shape the entire case.
Criminal defense · Shelby County
Being charged is frightening.
Talking to a lawyer shouldn't be.
Representing Memphians charged with crimes since 2009.
Call or text 901.568.5919- Call or text — free case info from court database
- Misdemeanors to Class A felonies
- An office across the street from 201 Poplar
Directly across from 201 Poplar
My office is at 242 Poplar Avenue — directly across the street from the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center.
You talk to me
Not an intake line or a case manager. The person you call or text is the person standing next to you in court.
Straight answers
I'll tell you what I think is realistic about your case, not what you're hoping to hear.
Who you'd be hiring
Criminal defense is my art and craft.
I've handled cases across the full range — from small misdemeanors to Class A felonies including aggravated robbery and 1st degree murder.
Most people who call or text me have never been arrested before. They don't know what happens next, what the charge actually means, or whether they should have said what they said to the officer. Answering those questions honestly is the first thing I do — before we ever talk about hiring me.
I'm not going to promise you a result. Nobody honest can. What I can tell you is that I'll be straight with you about what you're facing, I'll return your calls and texts, and I'll be the one standing next to you in the courtroom.
How fees work
You'll know what it costs before you hire me.
Most criminal defense in Memphis is billed by the hour, which means you find out what representation cost after it's over. I work on flat fixed rates instead.
We agree on a number at the start, in writing. That number doesn't move because the case took longer than expected or went further than either of us planned.
What a flat fee means
- One agreed price, quoted before you commit
- Put in writing so there's no argument later
- No hourly billing and no surprise invoices
- You can decide whether to hire me knowing the real cost
The view from my office door
Where I work
242 Poplar Avenue
That building is 201 Poplar — the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center. It's where your case will be heard, and it's directly across the street from my front door.
Being this close isn't a slogan. It means I'm in that courthouse constantly, I know the clerks and the prosecutors, and if something comes up on your case I can be there in minutes rather than rescheduling around a drive across town.
What I handle
Criminal charges in Memphis and Shelby County
If you're not sure whether your situation fits any of these, call or text anyway. It costs nothing to ask.
Robbery & kidnapping
Aggravated robbery and kidnapping are violent felonies with serious sentencing exposure. Early defense work is critical.
Assault & domestic violence
Charges that often involve people who know each other, where the facts are rarely as simple as the report suggests.
Drug charges
Possession through more serious charges, including cases that turn on how the search was conducted.
DUI & driving offenses
First offenses, repeat charges, license issues, and the administrative side that runs alongside the criminal case.
Traffic tickets
Moving violations and citations that can affect your license, insurance, or employment. Often resolvable without a court appearance.
What happens next
Three steps, starting with a call or text
FIRST
You call or text
Tell me what happened and what you've been charged with. If you have paperwork, have it in front of you. If you don't, that's fine too.
THEN
We talk it through
I'll walk you through what the charge means, what the court process looks like, and what the realistic range of outcomes is.
FINALLY
I go to court with you
If you hire me, I handle the filings, the negotiations with the State, and the court dates. You'll know what's happening at every stage.
Common questions
What people ask me first
I've never been arrested before. What happens now?
You'll have a court date, usually in General Sessions. What happens there depends on the charge, but the first setting is rarely where a case is decided. Call or text me before it and I'll walk you through what to expect so you're not going in cold.
Should I talk to the police?
Not without a lawyer present. This isn't about having something to hide — people talk themselves into trouble constantly by trying to explain, clear things up, or be helpful. You can decline politely and ask for a lawyer, and that request cannot be used against you.
What does it cost?
I work on flat fixed rates rather than hourly billing. I'll quote you a number for your specific case before you decide whether to hire me, and we put it in writing.
Can you get my charge dismissed?
I can't answer that before I know the facts, and you should be careful with any lawyer who promises an outcome at the first call or text. What I can do is tell you honestly what the realistic range looks like once I've seen what you're actually facing.
Someone I know is in custody. What can I do?
Call or text as soon as you can — timing matters more than almost anything else at this stage. Have their full name and date of birth ready if you have them. Avoid discussing the case on the jail phone line, since those calls are recorded.
Do you handle cases outside Memphis?
In addition to Shelby County General Sessions and Criminal Courts, I practice in all the municipal courts located in Shelby County, TN — Bartlett, Germantown, and Collierville.
Call or text
The sooner we talk, the more I can do.
901.568.5919Or send a message and I'll get back to you.