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Felony Versus Misdemeanor in Tennessee

By Baker Associates

Tennessee classifies crimes in one of two categories: misdemeanor and felony. For both of these categories, the state must prove that the suspect committed an unlawful act with criminal intent. For example, first degree murder in Tennessee is a felony and is characterized as the premeditated and intentional killing of another. The unlawful act is the ?killing of another?. The criminal intent element is doing the act with premeditation and with intent to kill. Likewise, the unlawful act in an assault crime?a misdemeanor?is the defendant?s causing of another to fear bodily injury. The intent element is satisfied when the state proves that the defendant acted with the intent to cause the defendant to fear harm. Felony, however, is distinguishable from misdemeanor based on the penalty ranges assigned...continue to full post

Full post as published by Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog on July 07, 2009 (boomark / email).