Kevin Kennedy handled a Nashville prosecutor’s docket for three years. He prosecuted hundreds of property crimes, including theft, burglary, vandalism, and others. He understands what constitutes a strong case versus a weak one. He knows what factors prosecutors consider in deciding whether to dismiss a case, offer a reduced charge, or take the case to trial.
A conviction for a property crime carries serious consequences under Tennessee Law. If you are facing a property crime, call Nashville Property Crime Attorney Kevin Kennedy to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Types of Property Crimes
Theft (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-103)
The penalties for theft vary depending upon the classification of the charge.
- Under $1,000: Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail.
- $1,000 – $2,500: Class E Felony punishable by up to 6 years in jail.
- $2,500 – $10,000: Class D Felony punishable by 2–12 years in jail.
- $10,000 – $60,000: Class C Felony punishable by 3–15 years in jail.
- $60,000 – $250,000: Class B Felony punishable by 8–30 years in jail.
- Over $250,000: Class A Felony punishable by 15–60 years in jail.
Burglary (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-1002)
Tennessee reorganized its burglary statutes in 2021, and the current offenses appear in Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 10. Burglary generally involves entering a building without the owner’s effective consent with the intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault, or committing or attempting one of those offenses after entering. Burglary of a building is generally a Class D felony, while burglary of a vehicle is generally a Class E felony. Our Nashville burglary lawyer page explains the current law in detail.
Aggravated burglary under § 39-13-1003 is burglary of a habitation and is a Class C felony. See our aggravated burglary page for how the habitation element is challenged.
Vandalism— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-408
Vandalism is damaging property that belongs to someone else without the consent of the property owner. Whether it is a misdemeanor or theft depends upon the value of the damage.
Other Common Types of Property Crimes
- Identity Theft
- Fraud and Forgery
- Receiving Stolen Property
Defending Property Crime Charges
Kevin has substantial experience with Property Crimes, having prosecuted countless such cases during his tenure at the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office.
An experienced property crimes attorney will scrutinize each piece of evidence that the State has for any weaknesses and diligently build up a defense. Property crime defenses may include negating critical elements that the State needs to prove, such as intent or the value of the property damaged. It also may include exploring mistaken identity defenses, suppressing evidence, admitting favorable evidence, impeaching witnesses’ credibility, and presenting the defenses’ story of what actually occurred. We take a comprehensive, detailed approach to your case in order to build the strongest possible defense.
This page is general information, not legal advice.