Clarksville, Tennessee, Incident Results in Several Criminal Charges

A Clarksville, Tennessee, man was charged with several crimes stemming from one incident.

On an early evening in May 2014, a Clarksville, Tennessee, man possibly under the influence of illegal bath salts, allegedly created a frightening disturbance that luckily left no one harmed. According to news reports, Darren Antonio Smith exited his vehicle in front of a Clarksville grocery store where he brandished a gun. He proceeded to the parking lot of an apartment building and stood on a car pointing the firearm.

Police reportedly heard shots at the apartment, where they were able to arrest the 26-year-old Smith without incident. Law enforcement found a handgun and shell casings in the vicinity.

A bond was set for Smith at $290,000 and he was reportedly charged with several crimes:

• Felony vandalism for damaging car
• Public intoxication
• Felon in possession of a firearm
• Contempt for violation of a restraining order that forbids him from having a gun
• Felony reckless endangerment

Legal Representation Crucially Important

This illustrates how criminal charges can quickly multiply out of one incident. A conviction can result in stiff penalties, including prison time, fines, restitution and more. In Tennessee, some convictions can even bring the death penalty.

When a Tennessean is charged with crime, he or she should enlist the representation of an experienced criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible to begin to protect the defendant's legal and constitutional rights.

A Tennessee criminal defendant's defense lawyer will perform several crucial functions:

• Communicate with police, prosecutors and the court on behalf of the defendant
• Conduct a detailed investigation of the allegations on behalf of the defendant to uncover and preserve evidence
• Advise the defendant of his or her rights and legal options at every step of the proceedings
• Negotiate with prosecution, federal or state, depending on whether the charges are for violation of federal or state law, to try to get charges dropped or reduced; to reach a plea agreement if appropriate; or to get the defendant into a pretrial diversion program, if eligible, that would suspend prosecution for up to two years, during which time the defendant would have to comply with certain terms to earn dismissal of the charges
• Defend against the charges vigorously in court, if necessary
• Fight for a fair sentence in the event of a criminal conviction

Anyone in Tennessee who finds him or herself facing the criminal justice system should immediately seek legal representation.

Keywords: Clarksville, Tennessee, crime, bath salts, firearm, conviction, punishment, defense