Criminal Defense Attorney McDonald County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in McDonald County, MO. If you have been arrested for a criminal offense, you understand the weight of the charges that you are facing. Even being convicted of a minor crime could cause you to pay an expensive fine, spend time in county jail, or have to spend multiple years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only are you at risk of a number of years in the Missouri state prisons. And even following your release you will be further punished via loss of certain privileges or rights that a large number of citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning firearms, running for office, or holding specific jobs. In addition, in many instances, you could be mandated to disclose your status as a convicted felon on rental or job applications, which usually drastically limits where they can work or live.

The experienced McDonald County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many people overcome criminal convictions in the McDonald County, MO area. Our firm gets that sometimes good people can have a stroke of misfortune, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the effect criminal charges have on your reputation, life, and freedom. Our impressive history of winning cases distinguishes us from other McDonald County criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the center of all that we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied McDonald County clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Give us a call today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your McDonald County, MO criminal case.

McDonald County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

An allegation of any crime is stressful enough, but when the charges you are facing are federal charges, they require an extra stage of legal acumen and dilligence. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win at all costs: the U.S. Department of Justice regularly touts that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. The overwhelming majority of those convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will pull out all the stops to coax a guilty plea, guarantee that you spend years in a Bureau of Prisons facility, and have a federal conviction on your record for the remainder of your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, our McDonald County, MO criminal defense attorneys have vast and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive outcomes for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near McDonald County, MO is not scared to take on any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight tirelessly on our clients’ behalf. We have assisted many McDonald County-area residents who were facing all kinds of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is a certainly troubling experience behind them. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.

A Full-Service McDonald County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The experienced McDonald County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

• Motor Vehicle Tampering
• Assault and Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges and Possession

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in McDonald County, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer from our hard-working St. Louis criminal defense firm, you will always receive quality customer service and a thoughtful defense strategy. Regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony, your case and your future are important to us. You will always be able to reach and speak with the leading criminal defense attorney assigned to your case.

With your very life at risk of being taken from you, it is imperative that you find a legal ally you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not procrastinate talking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your criminal charges at any level in the Missouri area. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the sooner we can get to work building a sound approach to your case and allowing you to breathe you to breathe a little easier as we tackle the looming uncertainty of an impending criminal court proceeding. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to get in touch with a criminal defense attorney in McDonald County, MO about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. For felony charges, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You may be sentenced to years in the state prison system, and once you are labeled a convicted felon you lose lifelong rights that many people take for granted. Convicted felons are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or rental applications, which is an obvious impairment to living a successful, lawful life.

If you have already received a felony conviction or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, do not lose hope. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and for certain cases you may be eligible to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in McDonald County, MO to learn about your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to learn how our McDonald County, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in McDonald County, Missouri

Under criminal law in Missouri, felony crimes are classified into categories that reflect the severity. Based on what class felony you are convicted of, the punishment will vary.

• Class A Felony – minimum of 10 years and no more than 30 years in prison, or life in prison
• Class B Felony – at least five but no more than 15 years in prison
• Class C Felony – between three and 10 years in prison
• Class D Felony – no more than seven years in prison
• Class E Felony – no more than four years in prison

Ultimately, the outcome of your felony criminal case depends on a variety of variables. If you receive a felony conviction, the precise punishment you are sentenced to is up to the judge. They will weigh information such as the situation surrounding the crime, your personal history and other details.

There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, so what is typically considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied for some defendants with prior convictions or in certain crimes that are considered dangerous or crimes based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in McDonald County representing you, what was originally a Class B felony could be dropped down to a lower class felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you a less serious.

You may also be able to avoid a criminal conviction altogether, if you have the right circumstances and a diligent and skillful criminal defense attorney. If you have a strong case demonstrating your innocence but the prosecutor refuses to drop the charges, your Combs Waterkotte criminal defense lawyer will take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then decide whether or not to find you guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our McDonald County, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are grouped into categories based on severity. Unlike prison time and possible parole that comes with a felony, misdemeanors are punishable by no more than one year in county or city jail or may just involve fines.

• Class A Misdemeanor – up to one year in jail; a fine of up to $2,000
• Class B Misdemeanor – up to six months in jail; a fine of up to $1,000
• Class C Misdemeanor – up to 15 days in jail; a fine of up to $700
• Class D Misdemeanor – a fine of up to $500

Similar to felonies, sentencing for a misdemeanor can be enhanced based upon the circumstances or your criminal history. However, you can often avoid jail time for misdemeanors and instead agree to a period of supervision known as probation. You may also be required to meet additional requirements as a condition of your probation, such as community service or competition of a substance abuse rehabilitation program.

Misdemeanors are not to be taken lightly, but are not as serious as felony convictions and a good criminal defense attorney can help you get an outcome that is minimally disruptive to your life and allows you to move forward in a positive light. Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP to discuss your case and your options with a defense attorney near McDonald County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In McDonald County, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our McDonald County-based defense attorneys can help you through our expert traffic ticket legal services. Affordable and effective as attorneys against traffic tickets, do not let our record of success in difficult criminal cases intimidate you or dissuade you from hiring us for top traffic ticket legal representation.

Being given a traffic ticket in McDonald County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your McDonald County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be subject to harsher penalties.

A growing number of McDonald County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their McDonald County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our top-notch McDonald County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in McDonald County, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your McDonald County traffic ticket fixed.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading McDonald County, MO area attorneys of Combs Waterkotte have the skill and expertise you need from your lawyer in any criminal or personal injury case. Learn more about the types of cases we win below.

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney

Hire Your McDonald County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Selecting the right McDonald County, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time behind bars. In contrast to other McDonald County defense attorneys, our firm places total client satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you will receive 24/7 access to the McDonald County criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can talk to us about your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you are looking at criminal charges in McDonald County, from a simple traffic ticket for an improper lane change to serious felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but preceding that we suggest that you take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the driven McDonald County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.