Chattanooga Criminal Law Blog

Trying to live within the lines

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in Sex Crimes on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

Many people have observed that Tennessee’s restrictions on where sex offenders can live and work are deliberately difficult to comply with. The restrictions appear to many to be designed to create opportunities for law enforcement officials to arrest offenders at virtually any time for violations that are virtually impossible to avoid.

We read recently of a man who was required to register as a sex offender who was arrested for living near childcare facilities that included a school, daycare businesses and a city park.

Man arrested in Chattanooga faces 21 sex crimes charges

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in Sex Crimes on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

A man was recently arrested here by Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies who were assisted by Chattanooga police officers and FBI agents. The suspect was wanted in Memphis on nearly two dozen sex crimes charges, officials said.

The suspect was taken into custody on Dayton Boulevard on charges that include seven counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, statutory rape by an authority figure, aggravated statutory rape and continuous sexual abuse of a minor.

How to respond to a domestic-abuse allegation

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Domestic-violence allegations can be complicated. While all domestic-violence allegations should be treated seriously, there can be strategic reasons why a spouse may want to seek a restraining order or Order of Protection.

If you have been accused of domestic violence in Tennessee, it is important to understand your rights and your legal options. The following are tips on how to respond to a domestic-abuse allegation.

Tennessee football player accused of assaulting cop

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in College student crimes on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

We know that many Chattanooga fans of University of Tennessee football make the 100-mile drive northeast of here to attend games during the season. One of the players expected to contribute in the upcoming season might be absent, however.

Junior defensive back Kenneth George Jr. has been suspended from the team indefinitely after his recent arrest on charges that he struck a police officer while on spring break in Florida. George is facing allegations that include battery on a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, resisting a police officer without violence and disorderly conduct.

Prominent Chattanooga family facing felony drug charges

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in Drug Crimes on Sunday, March 31, 2019.

Chattanooga’s Lipsey Trucking is not a household name, but along with Lipsey Logistics (its sister company), it owns dozens of 18-wheelers and employs 200 people. Owner Joseph Lipsey III was recently arrested on drug-related charges in Colorado.

Lipsey has relinquished his management role and ownership shares of the company after he, his wife and their 19-year-old son were all arrested and accused of furnishing alcohol and drugs to minors at parties.

Tennessee cops facing DUI and domestic violence charges

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in Drunk Driving on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

There are tens of thousands of laws about virtually every aspect of life in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the United States. With so many laws, it is not a surprise that so many find themselves facing criminal charges of one type or another.

It is a little surprising that so many law enforcement officers have recently found themselves accused of breaking the laws they’re sworn to uphold. Two more Tennessee police officers were arrested a couple of days ago on charges that include drunk driving and domestic violence.

Beware this St. Patrick’s Day tradition

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in Drunk Driving on Friday, March 15, 2019.

It’s an annual ritual: people wear emerald clothes, try their hand at lilting Irish accents and tip a green beer at an Irish pub. While St. Patrick’s Day traditions can be fun, there’s another annual ritual of which you should be aware: the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Chattanooga Police Department put extra cars and officers on the streets to look for and arrest people suspected of drunk driving.

News sources report that THP will have extra officers on highways and roads across the state to conduct sobriety checkpoints. Troopers also keep a close eye on vehicles that exceed speed limits and they also check to see if people are using seatbelts.

Tennessee woman accused of trying to smuggle drugs into prison

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt posted in Drug Crimes on Friday, March 8, 2019.

If you drive about 200 miles northwest of Chattanooga, you will arrive in Only, Tennessee. There are not a lot of fancy restaurants or clubs in the town of just over 2,000 residents, but they do have the Turney Center Industrial Complex, a medium level security prison.

According to a recent news report, a Department of Children’s Services worker was arrested and accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the facility. She has been charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver and felony introduction of narcotics into a penal facility.

Understanding child endangerment DUI charges

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt on Friday, March 1, 2019.

If you are found to be driving over the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of .08 percent, you will be arrested and will face a DUI charge. It is up to you how you defend yourself against this charge.

How you are charged will depend on other factors.

Woman charged in Chattanooga police officer's death

On behalf of Levitt & Levitt on Monday, February 25, 2019.

By now, everyone in Chattanooga is familiar with the tragic death of city police officer Nicholas Galinger this past weekend. He was struck late Saturday while inspecting a manhole cover on Hamill Road. The driver did not stop at the scene, police and news sources have stated.

According to law enforcement officials, a 54-year-old Hixson woman has been arrested on multiple charges related to the deadly accident, including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident with death.