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Criminal Law & Traffic Law

Serving Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, and Maury Counties in Tennessee
 

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Columbia, TN Criminal Lawyer with a record of results. If you’re looking for an attorney in the Columbia Tennessee area, look no further. Serving Middle Tennessee and surrounding counties at The Law Office of John M. Schweri. Member Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Click here to familiarize yourself with the typical steps in a criminal court case

WE REPRESENT CLIENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF CRIMINAL CHARGES

Dealer Counting Money

Violation of Probation/Violation of Parole/Violation of Community Corrections


Assault/Aggravated Assault/Aggravated Domestic Assault


Simple Possession, Casual Exchange, Cocaine for Resale, Meth for Resale, Heroine for Resale, Marijuana for Resale, Pills for Resale, Manufacturing and Promotion of Meth


Felon with a Weapon


Driving Under Influence (DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Underage Drinking, Open Container, Implied Consent, Traffic Violations, Driving on Suspended, Driving on Revoked


Theft, Fraud, Forgery, Criminal Simulation, Embezzlement


Kidnapping, Robbery, Burglary


1st and 2nd Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Involuntary Manslaugter, Reckless Homicide


Vehicular Assault, Vehicular Homicide,


Child Abuse, Aggravated Child Abuse, Solicitation of a Minor


Juvenile Crimes, Delinquent, Unruly, Truancy, Transfer to Adult Court


Department of Children Services, Termination of Parental Rights


All Sex Crimes and Violations of Sex Offender Registry and Community Supervision for Life

John M. Schweri has attended the Tennessee Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) Trial College in 2015 and been a member of TACDL since 2014

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Traffic Lights

Traffic Cases

DUI – Reduced to Reckless Endangerment in Davidson County General Sessions

DUI by Allowance – Dismissed in Maury County General Sessions

DUI 2nd – Amend to Implied Consent Violation Lawrenceburg General Sessions

CDL Moving Violation – Dismissed based on payment of Court costs Maury County General Sessions

Drug Cases

Simple Possession of Marijuana – Dismissed in Maury County General Sessions

Felony Amount of Marijuana for Resale – Diversion, Dismissed, Expunged Maury Circuit Court

Meth for Resale in Drug Free Zone (DFZ) – 10 years Probation Maury County Circuit Court

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An judge taking notes

Other Types of Relief

VERY IMPORTANT TN DRUG LAW UPDATE

Help your friends and family in prison in Tennessee

The DFZ (Drug  Free Zone) laws changed in the State of Tennessee on April 29, 2022 pursuant to TN Laws Pub. Ch. 927 TCA 39-17-432 (h) and Memorandum Summary SB 1528-HB 1449

Offenders in prison that plead guilty or were sentenced after trial to 100% sentences to serve DAY FOR DAY can now file a petition to have their case Re-sentenced, up to 30% of original sentencing

 

In many cases, eligibility for relief makes parole immediate because of the adjustment to their sentence down from 100% day for day to serve to a much lower amount

I have helped four (4) people successfully get their sentences drastically reduced and save many years of prison time they now don’t have to serve

Post Plea - Post Trial - Post Conviction Relief

Post Conviction DNA Act
Asking the Court to test DNA after conviction if new DNA is found or testing processes were not available specific to this case at the time of conviction

Motion to Correct Illegal Sentence Rule 36.1 Motion
Allows the defendant or the state to file a motion to correct an illegal sentence. The Rule defines illegal sentences as those that are not authorized by law or that directly conflict with the law.

Habeas Corpus at State and Federal Level
Writs of habeas corpus can be filed in state or federal court. A state-court writ of habeas corpus is brought pursuant to Tennessee law, whereas a federal writ is brought under prevailing federal law.

​Writ of Error Coram Nobis
Filing a Petition to correct an error either in admission or denial of evidence, jury instructions, illegal arrest, illegal sentence

​Post Conviction Relief
Putting trial counsel on trial for providing ineffective assistance of counsel leading to convictions

Motion to Reinstate Probation
Technically can be filed after 90 days every probation is revoked to attempt to convince Circuit Court Judge or General Sessions Judge to Reinstate Probation

Motion To Furlough To Rehab
A Circuit Court Trial Judge has a brief amount of time after someone is sentenced and a conviction is final to Furlough someone with a TDOC inmate status to Rehab before they lose Jurisdiction to TDOC

Judge's Gavel on Books

CASE RESULTS

Attempted 1st Degree Murder
Jury Trial Verdict of Not Guilty, Giles County

 

Domestic Assault and Vandalism
Not Guilty after Jury Trial, Maury County Circuit Court

 

1st Degree Murder
Plead to Accessory After the Fact, two Year Sentence, Maury County

 

Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Burglary, Theft over $10,000
Not Guilty Verdict after two day Jury Trial, Lawrence County

 

Aggravated Burglary, Theft over $10,000
Dismissed, Lawrence County

 

2nd Degree Murder
Plea to Involuntary Manslaughter, 5 yrs to serve at 30%, credit time served, paroled in 6 months from jail, Maury County Circuit Court

 

Attempted 1st Degree Murder
8 years to serve at 30% versus 25-40 yrs at 100%, Maury County Circuit Court

 

Attempted 2nd Degree Murder
Split confinement, 6 months to serve, rest on probation, Lawrence County Circuit Court

 

Attempted 2nd Degree Murder
6 yrs to serve at 30%, versus 25-40 yrs at 100%, Maury County Circuit Court

 

Aggravated Robbery
Dismissed, Maury County General Sessions

 

Especially Aggravated Robbery, Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault
4 yrs Probation, Maury County Circuit Court

Aggravated Assault
Hung Jury at Jury trial, not re-tried, case over, Maury County Circuit Court

 

Felony Harassment of Government official
Dismissed in Opening Argument at Jury Trial, Marshall County Circuit Court

 

Aggravated Robbery
7 counts, 6 yr Sentence at 30%, became trustee, paroled 6 months later out of county jail, no prison time, Maury County Circuit Court

 

Aggravated Burglary and Theft $10-60K
7 counts, 5 years Probation, Giles County Circuit Court

 

Aggravated Domestic Assault
Retired for 1 year in Marshall County Circuit Court

 

Aggravated Burglary and Theft $10-$60K
1 year split confinement, 270 days to serve, rest on probation, Marshall Circuit Court

 

Attempted 1st Degree Murder
(Exposure 25-40 years at 100%) reduced to misdemeanor Reckless Endangerment 11/29 probation

 

Sale of Meth in a Drug Free Zone, and Sale of Meth x 2
(Exposure 36 years to serve) Split confinement, 1 year to serve, credit time served, released in 3 1/2 months

 

Drugs: Sale of over 26 grams of meth x 2 in a Drug Free Zone, 1 yr to serve, 19 years probation, Giles County Circuit Court

 

Attempted 1st Degree Murder x 3
1 year to serve, 10 years probation Maury County Circuit Court

 

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