Violation: Attempted First Degree Murder (Class A Felony)
Facing: Minimum of 15 years, up to 60 years imprisonment without parole or probation
Result: All charges dismissed.
Additional Details: In a case that lasted 11 years, Frank Lannom finally won complete dismissal of all charges against a citizen accused of attempted first degree murder. The client was accused of shooting an unarmed man on a public road, resulting in the person shot becoming permanently paralyzed. Thorough investigation by Frank and his investigators uncovered numerous witnesses who could testify that the alleged victim had previously threatened the life of our client. In an unusual action, the charge began as aggravated assault, and then the State changed the charge and resubmitted the case to the Grand Jury, receiving the Attempted First Degree Murder indictment. If convicted, the lowest sentence possible was 15 years. The new charges were aggressively challenged by Frank Lannom and his team of lawyers and investigators, and the matter was carried to the Tennessee Supreme Court. After a delay of over four years where the state did not pursue the case, new prosecutors inexplicably began a forceful prosecution of the case. Fortunately, with Frank and Melanie’s successful application of a rarely used violation of the client’s right to a speedy trial, ALL CHARGES WERE DISMISSED, based upon the government’s inexcusable delay, lost files, missing witnesses and other results of the delay that prevented the client from receiving a fair trial. Not to be outdone, the Government then appealed the Judge. The dismissal of all charges was upheld by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. My client, Kenneth Harris, has given his permission to use his name within this article; therefore we have attached a copy of the opinion of the court appellate. With the client’s permission you may read the opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeals by clicking on the link as follows: State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Bryan Harris