Clayton, MO

Clayton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Clayton, MO Office Information

Elite Criminal Defense Attorneys Serving Clayton, St. Louis County, and All of Missouri

If you’ve been charged with a DWI/DUI, violent crime, sex crime, or other serious felony in Clayton or anywhere in Missouri, you need an aggressive criminal defense team on your side. Combs Waterkotte brings extensive courtroom experience, in-depth legal knowledge, and a track record of success to every case. We defend clients in Clayton, St. Louis County, and statewide, ensuring they have the best possible representation against any criminal charge.

From homicide and drug distribution to domestic assault, fraud, and traffic-related offenses, we understand that even the smallest details can make or break your case. Our legal team is relentless in protecting your rights and fighting for a dismissal, reduction of charges, or acquittal whenever possible.

Your future is too important to leave to chance. Call (314) 900-HELP today for a free consultation with a top Clayton criminal defense lawyer. Whether you’re facing a first-time misdemeanor or serious felony charges, we serve clients throughout Missouri and are ready to help you.

Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Clayton, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Clayton, MO

Criminal defense lawyers in Clayton, Missouri serving St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, the greater St. Louis metro area, and all of Missouri. If you’ve been arrested or are under investigation for misdemeanor charges, felony charges, federal charges, DWI, drug charges, sex crimes, weapons offenses, or domestic violence charges, you need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney quickly. Combs Waterkotte provides aggressive criminal defense for clients living in Clayton and the greater St. Louis metro area. We act fast to challenge the evidence in your case, protect your rights, and fight for reduced charges, dismissed charges, or a trial acquittal. From your initial consultation through the conclusion of your case, we deliver clear client communication and unwavering advocacy. Contact Combs Waterkotte today for a free consultation of your Clayton Missouri criminal case.

Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Clayton, MO

Combs Waterkotte has over 60 years of combined legal experience and has handled over 10,000 cases. We’ve dedicated our lives and career to providing the best criminal defense available — nothing less.

No matter what charges you’re facing, we can help you achieve the best possible legal outcome for your criminal case in Clayton. The most common cases we handle include:

Felony Charge Lawyer Clayton, MO

A felony charge is a very serious matter in Missouri. Felony convictions carry steep fines and multi-year prison sentences:

• Class A Felony — A 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 — Up to seven years in prison.
• Class E Felony — Up to four years in prison.

A felony conviction can also lead to difficulty finding housing and employment, the loss of voting or firearms rights, the loss of certain professional licenses, and trouble with immgration status.

If you’re facing a felony charge in Clayton, MO, contact Combs Waterkotte as soon as you can. Common felony charges we help defend against include:

• White Collar Crimes, including embezzlement, fraud, and financial crimes
• Drug Crimes, like manufacturing controlled substances, trafficking, distribution, and possession
• Sex Crimes, such as child pornography charges, rape, statutory rape, and sexual misconduct
• Violent Crimes, like aggravated assault, murder, and manslaughter
• Theft & Property Crimes, including stealing, burglary, robbery, and fraud-related offenses
• Weapon Crimes, such as unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon

If you’re facing a felony charge in Clayton, call [wdac-phpne] right away to start building your defense.

Misdemeanor Lawyer Clayton, MO

A misdemeanor in Missouri can result in one year in jail, fines, and other court-ordered penalties or programs:

• Class D Misdemeanor: Possible community service or probation and a fine up to $500
• Class C Misdemeanor: Up to 15 days in jail and a fine up to $750
• Class B Misdemeanor: Up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000
• Class A Misdemeanor: Up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,000
• Unclassified Misdemeanor: Penalties vary depending on the statute

Common misdemeanors we defend against in Clayton include:

• Driving While Suspended or Revoked
• First-Offense DWI
• Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
• Property Damage
• Petty Theft and Shoplifting
• Drug Possession

Misdemeanors carry lighter penalties than felonies, but a conviction can still lead to fines, probation, and jail time. Some misdemeanors will even stay on your permanent criminal record. The earlier you seek legal representation in your misdemeanor case, the more likely you are to get reduced charges, a diversion program, or even dismissal.

Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer Clayton, MO

When it comes to criminal charges, it simply doesn’t get more serious than federal crimes. These allegations include investigations by large, resourceful national agencies like the FBI, ATF, and DEA. Some of the most common federal charges we tend to see are drug trafficking, drug distribution, firearms offenses, bank robbery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft, but there are plenty more. Federal penalties are typically more severe than state penalties. They can result in lengthy prison sentences with quite a few restrictions and permanent damage to your reputation, your personal life, and your career.

If you’re facing federal charges in Clayton, Missouri, you absolutely need the backing of a capable criminal defense firm. Combs Waterkotte is up to the challenge of handling the intricacies and complexities that come with a federal case. We’ll closely examine and challenge every piece of evidence, scrutinize evidence collection methods and law enforcement interrogations, and look for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case to limit the impact a federal charge has on your life.

DWI Lawyer Clayton, MO

A DWI charge can change your life — and not for the better. The penalties for DWI offenses in Clayton, Missouri get worse with each charge. A first-time DWI offense can result in a short license revocation and some community service, while a habitual DWI offender can face years, if not decades, in prison. The consequences for a DWI become more severe if there’s an injury or death involved, and those consequences can become worse still if the injured party is a law enforcement officer or emergency personnel.

Whether you’re facing your first DWI or you’re being charged for a third, fourth, or fifth time in Clayton, get in touch with Combs Waterkotte as soon as you can. We’ve helped defend against hundreds of DWIs in Clayton and the St. Louis area. We challenge field sobriety tests, scrutinize breathalyzers and blood testing equipment, and investigate whether or not an arresting officer violated your constitutional rights during a traffic stop. We can help reduce or dismiss your charges and even fight for an acquittal in a potential criminal trial. We also work to ensure you keep your driving privileges and will represent you in an administrative hearing.

Violent Crimes Lawyer Clayton, MO

Violent crime charges are some of the most serious you can face in Clayton, Missouri. Allegations like first and second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, and kidnapping can net felony-level charges and, with them, long prison sentences without the possibility for parole. The violent nature of these types of crimes mean that prosecutors pursue convictions aggressively and aim for the harshest sentencing guidelines possible. A violent crime conviction can have a negative impact on your life and career that can last for years, if not your entire life.

If you’ve been accused of or charged with a violent crime in Clayton, Missouri, Combs Waterkotte can help. Our decades of experience with these types of charges has prepared us to handle your case from your initial consultation all the way through to its conclusion. We’ll thoroughly investigate and refute evidence, look for contradictions and inconsistencies in witness statements, and utilize our expertise to negotiate plea deals, charge reductions, and dismissals. And, if it comes down to it, we’ll be ready to defend you at trial.

Sex Crimes Lawyer Clayton, MO

Prosecutors in Clayton aggressively pursue convictions for sex crimes. Whether the allegation is rape, possession of child pornograpy, sexual abuse, or another type of sexual misconduct, sex crime charges are serious allegations with the penalties to match. If convicted, a defendant will have to register as a sex offender and may have to serve years or decades in prison. The gravity of these charges and their penalties can’t be overstated, and you should never try to face them without an experienced lawyer.

Combs Waterkotte has handled sex crime cases of all kinds. With over six decades of combined experience handling these kinds of charges in the Clayton, Missouri area, we’re well equipped to take on any sex crime case, no matter the charge. We’ll examine all the evidence closely, hunting for inconsistencies in witness statements, scrutinize exaggerated or false claims, and check to ensure your constitutional rights weren’t violated during any law enforcement questioning. We’ll fight to reduce or dismiss your charges, and we’ll see your case through to trial if we need to.

Drug Charges Lawyer Clayton, MO

Drug crimes in Clayton, Missouri span a spectrum of offenses and penalties. One person may face a first-time possession charge for a Schedule-V controlled substance while another person may face felony-level trafficking charges for a Schedule-I controlled substance. The charges and penalties depend primarily on the substance in question and its quantity. For substances like heroin or methamphetamine, even relatively small amounts can result in felony charges that can have a big impact on your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, we have plenty of experience dealing with drug charges in Clayton, Missouri and the greater St. Louis metro area. Our experienced drug charge attorneys can take on your case no matter the substance or charge. They’ll work to exclude evidence, challenge for unlawful search and seizures, and ensure you weren’t a victim of entrapment or self-incrimination. We’ll do whatever we can to reduce or dismiss your drug charges and, if we need to, we’ll fight for a not-guilty verdict in court.

Theft & Property Crimes Lawyer Clayton, MO

Theft and property crimes charges in Clayton Missouri range in terms of charges and penalties. While low-level shoplifting or petty theft may result in a misdemeanor, other charges like robbery, burglary, or motor vehicle theft can carry felony-level penalties that come with large fines, long jail sentences, the forfeiture of certain civil rights, and long-term effects on your career and personal life. Generally, the larger the defendant’s criminal history and the higher the value of the stolen goods, the harsher the penalties.

Combs Waterkotte is ready to handle any and all theft and property-related crimes in Clayton, Missouri and the surrounding St. Louis metro area. We’ll look closely at all the evidence to ensure your rights weren’t violated during law enforcement interactions, attempt to undermine witness testimony, and scrutinize forensic and security camera evidence. Let us fight for you to minimize the impact of your theft or property crime charge on your life.

Weapons Crime Lawyer Clayton, MO

Weapons crimes come with steep penalties in Clayton, Missouri. The often violent nature of these charges mean that prosecutors tend to pursue convictions aggressively and work to ensure the harshest sentencing guidelines possible. Allegations like the unlawful use of a weapon, the illegal discharge of a firearm, or the possession of an illegal weapon can be charged as felonies and, as a result, carry lengthy prison sentences. Weapon charges become more severe when charged alongside other crimes like assault, robbery, or kidnapping.

At Combs Waterkotte, we strongly believe everyone deserves a right to a fair trial and we stand ready to defend against weapon crime charges in the Clayton, Missouri area. Our highly experienced weapons crime attorneys will take a close look at the allegations against you and ensure police didn’t violate your rights during questioning, searches, or seizures. We’ll also attempt to refute witness testimony and try to get key evidence thrown out to ensure the best result possible in your Clayton, Missouri weapons crime case.

Domestic Violence Lawyer Clayton, MO

Domestic violence charges in Clayton, Missouri can result in fines, jail time, prison sentences, and orders of protection against you. These types of allegations may also lead to the loss of firearm rights, along with long-term damage to your family relationships or your reputation. Clayton, Missouri’s courts take allegations like domestic assault, stalking, and similar charges very seriously. As a result, they tend to seek harsh penalties for those convicted.

Combs Waterkotte’s skilled Clayton defense attorneys defend domestic violence cases by carefully examining every aspect of the case, including evidence collection procedures, police interrogations, witness accounts, and any photo or video evidence. Our Clayton domestic violence lawyers will challenge any rights violations you may have experienced and argue self-defense where applicable. We’ll do everything we can to reduce or dismiss your charges or fight for an acquittal in court if necessary.

Juvenile Crimes Lawyer Clayton, MO

Juvenile crime charges in Clayton, Missouri involve instances of minors accused of offenses like theft and shoplifting, trespassing and vandalism, drug and alcohol-related offenses, and more. The juvenile court system is designed to focus primarily on rehabilitation, but a conviction can still result in court-ordered programs, probation, detention, and other long-term consequences that may affect a minor’s education and future. In some cases, prosecutors may even seek to certify that a juvenile stand trial as an adult, which can substantially increase any potential penalties they may face.

Combs Waterkotte represents minors and their families in Clayton, Missouri and all throughout the St. Louis metro area. We work to protect a young person’s future and their record, ensuring that one mistake doesn’t end up defining their entire life. Our defense lawyers fight to keep cases in juvenile court when possible, challenge the prosecution’s evidence, and advocate for diversion programs and alternative sentencing options. We provide a compassionate defense at every stage of the process because we understand what’s at stake for the child and their family.

Speak With a Clayton, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you’re under investigation or have been arrested for a crime in Clayton, Missouri, St. Louis City, or St. Louis County, the best thing you can do is hire an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The prosecution has already started building their case against you, so there’s no time to waste. At Combs Waterkotte, we work fast to develop your strategic legal defense, evaluate your legal options, and protect your rights. Contact our Clayton, Missouri criminal defense attorneys online or call (314) 900-HELP now for a free, confidential consultation. Get in touch now and take the first steps in protecting your rights, your future, and your freedom.

Clayton Resources

• Clayton Website
• Clayton Court
• Clayton Jail

St. Louis County Resources

• St. Louis County Website
• St. Louis County Court
• St. Louis County Jail

St. Louis City Resources

• St. Louis Website
• St. Louis Court
• St. Louis Jail

St. Charles County Resources

• St. Charles County Website
• St. Charles County Court
• St. Charles County Jail