MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A Rutherford County court case involving dozens of alleged violations of a protective order could carry significant legal consequences for the defendant, who is facing a combination of felony and misdemeanor charges tied to stalking and repeated violations of court orders. This particular case shows that the suspect, a 51-year-old man who lives off Halls Hill Pike, is no stranger to the law.
The case centers on a suspect who is currently being held behind bars at the local jail and who has been charged with one count of aggravated stalking and 44 counts of violating an order of protection or restraining order. The charges stem from an incident that allegedly occurred July 3, 2024. Court records show the suspect had a lengthy criminal history before entering the courtroom for this most recent case.
In the past, the 51-year-old was arrested multiple times and entered guilty pleas tied to offenses such as DUI, burglary, cruelty to animals, probation violations, harassment and aggravated stalking.
Under Tennessee law, the 44 counts tied to alleged violations of a protective or restraining order fall under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-113. Each charge is classified as a Class A misdemeanor and may be filed when a person knowingly violates the terms of an order of protection, restraining order or no-contact order after receiving notice of the order.
The statute is designed to protect victims in domestic violence and harassment cases and includes strict enforcement measures.
A violation can lead to immediate arrest, and each count carries a potential penalty of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, along with fines of up to $2,500.
Tennessee law also allows law enforcement officers to make warrantless arrests if they have probable cause to believe a violation has occurred. The statute additionally prohibits individuals from possessing firearms while an order of protection is in effect and covers violations of no-contact orders issued to domestic abuse victims prior to a defendant’s release on bond.
In cases involving multiple alleged violations, judges may order sentences to run either concurrently or consecutively. If served consecutively, each count could theoretically carry its own jail sentence.
If the maximum penalty were applied to all 44 misdemeanor counts and ordered to run consecutively, the total exposure would equal approximately 43 years and eight months behind bars. Legal experts note that such outcomes are uncommon, and courts typically structure sentences with a combination of concurrent sentences, probation or partial jail time.
The aggravated stalking charge in the case falls under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-315 and is typically classified as a Class E felony in Tennessee.
A Class E felony carries a potential sentence of:
1 to 6 years for a Range I offender
2 to 8 years for a Range II offender
4 to 12 years for a Range III offender
Depending on criminal history and court rulings, felony sentences may be served in state prison or under supervised probation.
If every charge in the case were ordered to run consecutively, the 51-year-old suspect’s theoretical maximum exposure could exceed 49 years in combined jail and prison time, placing his release date on or around his 100th birthday. However, legal observers note that courts rarely impose the full maximum consecutively in cases involving large numbers of misdemeanor counts.
More commonly, judges impose a felony sentence along with a structured set of misdemeanor penalties that may include probation, monitoring, partial incarceration or limited consecutive sentences.
Tennessee law does allow consecutive sentencing in situations where a defendant is deemed a “dangerous offender,” has an extensive history of criminal activity or repeatedly violates court orders.
Additional details about the case, including upcoming court proceedings, are expected later this week.
WGNS is awaiting further details about the case before releasing the man’s name due to the nature of the reported crime and the alleged victim involved.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
