What could tourists face over fights in Nashville?

Tourists coming to Nashville to enjoy its music scene, restaurants, attractions, nightlife and other offerings hope for a fun trip without troubles. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as smoothly as a visitor would hope. Some unexpected problems are just minor inconveniences. Others could have the potential to have major repercussions that last long after the trip.

One thing that falls into the latter category is getting into a physical altercation during a visit to Nashville. Being accused of being involved in a bar brawl or other fight could lead to tourists facing assault charges.

Standard assault charges

In Tennessee, assault is typically a misdemeanor offense. It is fairly common for assault charges to fall into the Class A misdemeanor level. A conviction on a charge of this level can lead to a prison sentence of up to a year.

Aggravated assault charges

And the situation could get even more serious. There are certain things that could lead to a tourist facing aggravated assault charges over a fight. Examples include a fight involving a deadly weapon or leading to someone getting seriously injured or dying.

Unlike standard assault, aggravated assault is typically a felony offense in Tennessee. The penalties for an aggravated assault conviction, consequently, are much heavier. For example, prison time of upwards of a decade can be on the table. How severe the penalties of such a conviction can be in part depends on whether the offense was found to be committed recklessly or intentionally.

Responding to charges

As one can see, the charges coming out of a fight during a Nashville visit could have the potential to deeply affect a tourist’s future. So, what a tourist facing such charges does next matters greatly. Given this, tourists who finds themselves in such a position would be wise to promptly consult with a knowledgeable defense attorney to learn their options for responding to the charges and protecting their future.