Felony Defense Lawyer in Memphis, TN

Appellate Experience & Judicial Perspective for Shelby County Felony Cases

A felony charge is the most serious classification in Tennessee’s criminal system, and the decisions made in the first hours after arrest can shape everything that follows. At Francavilla Law Firm, Tim Francavilla has represented clients in felony matters from initial arrest through trial and appeal, including briefing and arguing cases before the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals and briefing issues to the Tennessee Supreme Court. That appellate reach, combined with his service as a sitting Bartlett Municipal Court judge since 2016, gives our clients insight into how courts evaluate evidence and arguments. Every client works directly with Tim Francavilla from the first consultation through resolution.

Our firm has practiced in Memphis, Shelby County, and surrounding West Tennessee courts since 1997, with direct familiarity with local procedures, court personnel, and how the Shelby County District Attorney’s office approaches prosecution. We represent clients facing felony charges in Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, and across Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, and Madison Counties.

If you or someone you know is facing a felony charge, don’t wait to get counsel in place. Contact Francavilla Law Firm at (901) 979-9992 to speak directly with Tim Francavilla about your situation.

Tennessee Felony Classifications: Class A Through E

Tennessee divides felonies into five classes, each carrying its own sentencing range and fine limits. Understanding where a charge falls determines the potential exposure a defendant faces before any defense strategy is applied.

The five classes, as a general reference, are:

• Class A: 15 to 60 years, fines up to $50,000. Includes offenses such as second-degree murder and aggravated rape.
• Class B: 8 to 30 years, fines up to $25,000. Includes major drug trafficking offenses.
• Class C: 3 to 15 years, fines up to $10,000. Covers a range of serious offenses including some aggravated assault charges.
• Class D: 2 to 12 years, fines up to $5,000.
• Class E: 1 to 6 years, fines up to $3,000. Includes some drug possession charges and lower-threshold theft offenses.

Theft charges illustrate how value-based classifications work. Under Tennessee Code § 39-14-105, theft generally becomes a Class E felony when the amount exceeds $1,000 but falls below $2,500, escalates to Class D when the amount reaches $2,500 but remains below $10,000, and continues upward through Class C and above at higher values. These thresholds can change with legislative updates, so confirming current statute language with your attorney is important. Within every class, Shelby County judges retain discretion over where a sentence lands inside the statutory range.

How a Memphis Felony Case Moves Through the Courts

Most felony cases in Shelby County begin with arrest and an initial appearance in General Sessions Criminal Court, where a preliminary hearing is held to evaluate probable cause. If the case is bound over, it goes to a grand jury. When the grand jury returns an indictment, the case transfers to Shelby County Criminal Court for arraignment, pretrial motions, and, if it doesn’t resolve beforehand, trial.

Each stage presents opportunities and risks. Pretrial motions, including motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence, can materially change the trajectory of a case before it ever reaches a jury. Tim Francavilla handles cases at every stage, from preliminary hearings in General Sessions through Shelby County Criminal Court proceedings. His experience on the bench gives him direct insight into how judges weigh procedural arguments and evaluate the credibility of evidence, a perspective he brings to every felony defense strategy we build.

The Consequences of a Felony Conviction Go Beyond the Sentence

Prison time and fines are the visible consequences of a felony conviction. The collateral consequences often outlast the sentence itself. In Tennessee, a felony conviction can result in loss of voting rights that requires a separate court-order restoration process to regain, permanent loss of the right to possess firearms, and ineligibility for a range of professional licenses. Background checks can affect employment opportunities, housing applications, and federal student aid eligibility for years after release.

Tennessee does provide limited expungement options for some felony convictions, but eligibility is narrow and offense-specific, and many serious felonies don’t qualify. Understanding the full scope of what’s at stake is part of why retaining a Memphis felony lawyer early matters as much as it does.

What Francavilla Law Firm Brings to a Felony Defense

Tim Francavilla’s record in Tennessee courts is what distinguishes this firm for clients facing felony charges. He has briefed and argued complex legal issues before the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals and briefed issues to the Tennessee Supreme Court, appellate work that sharpens how he anticipates prosecution arguments and frames defense strategy at the trial level. As a Bartlett Municipal Court judge since 2016, he sees firsthand how courts process and weigh criminal arguments, a vantage point that informs every motion filed and every argument made on a client’s behalf.

Additional credentials that bear directly on felony defense work:

• Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Rating: Peer-reviewed recognition from fellow attorneys and judges for ethical standards and legal ability.
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100: Named among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
• TACDL Membership: Active member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, keeping our practice current on Tennessee criminal law developments.
• Bar Association Lecturing: Tim Francavilla lectures regularly for the Tennessee Bar Association, the Memphis Bar Association, TACDL, and other legal organizations on criminal procedure, DUI law, and legislative updates, staying current on changes that affect how felony cases are charged and defended.
• NHTSA Certification: Certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, providing technical grounding for challenging evidence in cases where DUI charges intersect with felony classifications.
• Federal Court License: Licensed to practice in both Tennessee state and federal courts, covering the full range of felony charge venues.

We explain all legal options and fee structures before you decide to retain us. There are no surprises about what representation involves or what it costs.

Facing a Felony Charge in Memphis? Contact Us Today

The earlier we’re involved, the broader the range of options available to you. Waiting until after statements are made or the prosecution has built its record can narrow what a defense can accomplish. Tim Francavilla represents every client the way he would represent a member of his own family, with direct communication, hands-on advocacy, and a strategy built around the specific facts of your situation.

Francavilla Law Firm serves Memphis, Shelby County, Cordova, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, and communities throughout West Tennessee including Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, and Madison Counties. Call (901) 979-9992 today to speak directly with Tim Francavilla about your felony case.