The Crime

Reckless Endangerment is a serious offense that can damage your record and your reputation. In Tennessee, a person may be convicted of the crime of Reckless Endangerment if the state prosecutor proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the person:

1. Recklessly engaged in conduct;
2. That placed or may have placed a person;
3. In imminent danger of death;
4. Or serious bodily injury.

The term reckless, as it is used here, means that a person was aware of, but consciously disregarded, a substantial and unjustifiable risk that his conduct would place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. If you have been charged with the crime of Reckless Endangerment, you should seek help from the Knoxville criminal defense attorneys at the Oberman & Rice Law Firm.

[Source: Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 39-13-103, 39-11-106]

The Penalties

Reckless Endangerment may be defined as Class A Misdemeanor or as a more serious Felony Offense. If committed with a deadly weapon, Reckless Endangerment becomes a Class E Felony Offense. If the person commits Reckless Endangerment by discharging a firearm into a habitation (a home), the offense is a Class C Felony. The specific classification of Felony Reckless Endangerment involves other factors and elements not discussed on this page. For more information about this crime, please contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Oberman and Rice Law Firm. Felony Reckless Endangerment can result in some or all of the following penalties and will depend on the facts of the Felony offense:

1. A sentence of 1 to 15 years in prison;
2. A probationary period;
3. A fine of up to $10,000;
4. Court costs; and
5. Points on a Tennessee driving history if committed with a motor vehicle.

[Source: Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-103]

Other Consequences of a Felony Reckless Endangerment Conviction

In addition to the court-mandated penalties described above, a person convicted of Felony Reckless Endangerment may also experience serious collateral (other) consequences. A Tennessee Felony Reckless Endangerment conviction may result in the loss of college scholarships or the ability to seek admission to a higher learning institution. A conviction may also impact one’s ability to maintain or seek employment and may result in negative action to a professional license (e.g. nursing).

Furthermore, a conviction for Felony Reckless Endangerment will ALWAYS stay on a person’s criminal history, and current and future employers may access records of prior convictions. This means that under current Tennessee criminal law and expungement law you may not erase or expunge an Felony Reckless Endangerment conviction from public record. Accordingly, current and future employers may access records of Tennessee criminal convictions. For more information about Tennessee expungement law, you may wish to review the information contained on our sister website, http://www.eraseyourrecord.com/index.html.

Why Hire An Attorney Immediately?

It is important to act quickly in order to gather and preserve favorable evidence. Certain witnesses need to be interviewed as soon as possible. Key evidence (faces, dates, events, and conversations) fades from memory over time. Also, video recordings and other evidence may be destroyed. Therefore, it is critical to begin an investigation as soon as possible to ensure valuable evidence is not lost. Success or failure in any criminal case may be determined in the decisions of the defendant and his or her Tennessee Criminal Defense Attorney in only a few hours or days after an arrest.

Contact Us Today

If you or someone you know has recently been arrested, contact the Oberman & Rice Law Firm today so that we can begin preparing a defense for your case. Submit your information for a free case evaluation from our Knoxville criminal defense attorneys or call our office at 865-249-7200.