Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, MO Criminal Defense Attorneys

2300 Main St.
Suite 900
Kansas City, MO 64108

Kansas City, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Kansas City, MO Office Information

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

Criminal charges can turn your life upside down—but with Combs Waterkotte’s top-rated Kansas City, MO criminal defense attorneys, you don’t have to face them alone. We defend individuals accused of DWI/DUI, violent crimes, sex offenses, felony drug charges, and other serious criminal allegations in Kansas City, Jackson County, and across the state of Missouri.

Whether you’re facing felony charges such as assault, homicide, robbery, or a sex crime, or you’ve been arrested for a DWI/DUI or drug possession, our legal team knows how to fight back. Even lesser offenses like misdemeanors and traffic violations can have lasting consequences, and we take every case seriously.

The prosecution is already working to convict you—don’t wait to start building your defense. Call (913) 77-CRIME now for a free consultation with a Kansas City criminal defense lawyer who will protect your future. We proudly serve clients in Kansas City, MO and throughout Missouri.

Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Kansas City, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Kansas City, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Kansas City, Missouri, serving Jackson County, Clay County, Cass County, Johnson County, Ray County, Lafayette County, and clients throughout the Kansas City metro area. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte provide aggressive criminal defense for violent crimes, DWI, sex crimes, weapons charges, and serious felony charges. If you’ve been arrested or you’re under investigation, our Kansas City criminal defense lawyers act quickly to challenge evidence, protect your rights, and fight for acquittal, dismissal, or reduced charges. From your initial consultation through trial, we advocate for you and offer clear, timely communication. For a free, confidential case evaluation, contact Combs Waterkotte today. Criminal Defense Attorney in Kansas City, MO.

Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Kansas City, Missouri

Having successfully handled over 10,000 cases, Combs Waterkotte’s Missouri criminal defense attorneys have the experience to take on your case.

We’re here to help you find the best outcome to your Kansas City criminal case possible, no matter the charge you’re facing. Common cases we handle include:

Felonies Lawyer Kansas City, MO

A felony in Missouri is any crime that carries a potential prison term longer than one year. Missouri classifies felonies as follows:

Class E Felony — Up to four years in prison.
Class D Felony — Up to seven years in prison.
Class C Felony — Between three and 10 years in prison.
Class B Felony — At least five but no more than 15 years in prison
Class A Felony — Minimum of 10 years and no more than 30 years in prison, or life in prison.

Other potential consequences of a felony conviction include the loss of professional licenses, difficulty finding employment and housing, and the loss of firearm and voting rights.

Felonies commonly charged in Kansas City include:

DWI Lawyer Kansas City, MO

A DWI in Kansas City is a serious offense that comes with a wide range of possible consequences. From heavy fines and jail time to the loss of your driver’s license, a DWI can disrupt your life for months or even years at a time. Consequences become even more dire for repeat offenders, sometimes necessitating license denials up to ten years long and requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. It’s unwise to face these charges without the help of an experienced attorney.

Combs Waterkotte’s Kansas City DWI lawyers take on DWI cases by ensuring your Miranda rights and your Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights weren’t violated. We also challenge the probable cause of the arresting officer, scrutinize any blood and breath test equipment law enforcement may have used, and oppose improperly administered field sobriety tests. From the criminal aspects of a DWI case to an administrative hearing and beyond, we work to protect your license and livelihood.

Violent Crimes Lawyer Kansas City, MO

In Kansas City, violent crimes charges carry some of the most severe penalties under Missouri law. A conviction for homicide, assault, or any other violent crime can mean years in prison, sometimes without the possibility of parole or probation (depending on the severity of the incident). Prosecutors in Kansas City pursue convictions for violent crimes very aggressively, and a conviction on your record can mean the loss of certain rights and freedoms as well as permanent damage to your reputation.

Combs Waterkotte knows these kinds of offenses come with serious consequences, which is why we take the development of your defense just as seriously. We’ll thoroughly examine all of the details of your case, look for weaknesses in the prosecution’s line of attack, and scrutinize every bit of evidence to get you the best possible outcome. When your freedom is on the line, Combs Waterkotte will use every resource at our disposal to help.

Drug Charges Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Being charged with a drug crime in Kansas City is an incredibly stressful ordeal. Whether you’re facing a simple possession misdemeanor or a high-level felony trafficking charge, Missouri has some of the toughest drug laws in the country. A drug charge conviction can lead to big fines, probation, jail time, prison time, and a permanent criminal record that can strip you of certain rights and make it tougher to find jobs or housing. Your case becomes even more serious if your drug charge is paired with a gun charge, prior convictions, or the possession of large quantities of controlled substances.

Whatever drug charge you’re facing, you can trust Combs Waterkotte to develop the best possible legal defense to minimize the impact of the offense on your life, career, and criminal record. We’ll challenge improperly obtained search warrants, scrutinize the probable cause of traffic stops, look for instances of entrapment, and do anything else we can to reduce or dismiss your drug charges. We’ll also be prepared to go to trial from day one if necessary.

Domestic Violence Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Facing domestic violence charges in Kansas City is tough. The serious nature of the charges means that prosecutors tend to go after convictions very aggressively, and a conviction can have a lasting impact for years. You may face jail or prison time, orders of protection, or the loss of child custody, not to mention the permanent damage such a charge can do to your reputation. Even a misdemeanor conviction can lead to significant consequences in your personal and professional life.

At Combs Waterkotte, we’ll fight to minimize the effect of a domestic violence charge on your life. From the outset, we’ll challenge any exaggerated or false allegations made against you, dig through witness statements for contradictions or inconsistencies, work to justify your use of self-defense, and do anything else we can to clear your name. Let us fight for you to reduce your charges, get them dismissed outright, or work for an acquittal at trial.

Weapons Offenses Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Weapons crimes in Kansas City bring with them an array of consequences. From the loss of firearm rights to extended prison sentences, a gun charge conviction can have a profound impact, especially when it’s paired with a violent crime or drug charge. It’s important to take these kinds of charges seriously from the beginning, and the best thing you can do for yourself is to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to handle your case for you.

At Combs Waterkotte, we have over six decades of combined experience in dealing with weapon-related charges in Kansas City. We employ a number of proven defense strategies to help defendants beat weapon charges, including the Castle Doctrine, the Stand Your Ground law, and other powerful self-defense rules that are part of Missouri law. Combs Waterkotte will do everything we can to ensure a weapon charge doesn’t derail your life.

Sex Crimes Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Sex crime charges in Kansas City come with some of the most severe penalties and life-altering consequences under Missouri law. Whether you’ve been charged with child pornography offenses, rape, or any other sexual misconduct allegations, the consequences of a conviction can last a lifetime. Many of these charges require sex offender registration, and others can lead to long prison sentences. Plus, Kansas City prosecutors pursue convictions for these charges very aggressively.

If you’re facing a sex crime charge in Kansas City, call us right away at (314) 900-HELP. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys will examine and scrutinize every piece of evidence involved in your case, including witness credibility, procedural errors by law enforcement, forensic evidence, and digital evidence to undermine the prosecution’s case. We’ll work to protect your rights and pursue reduced charges, a dismissal, or an acquittal at trial.

Theft & Property Crimes Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Property and theft crimes in Kansas City range from charges as simple as misdemeanor shoplifting to first-degree robbery. The wide scope of these charges means that defendants can face anything from a couple weeks of community service to extended prison sentences without the possibility of parole. A theft crime conviction can also have lasting consequences, making it harder for individuals to apply for jobs or housing.

Whatever property or theft charge you may be facing in the Kansas City area, you need to reach out to Combs Waterkotte if you’ve been arrested or accused. We’ll work to protect your rights, keep you out of jail, and minimize the consequences of such a charge on your life by thoroughly examining all available evidence to build you the strongest defense possible. We’ll fight for a reduction in charges or a dismissal, and if your case goes to trial, we’ll aggressively pursue a not-guilty verdict.

Juvenile Crimes Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Juvenile crime charges in Kansas City involve minors accused of several types of offenses, from truancy and curfew violations to more serious felony-level allegations. The Missouri juvenile justice system is designed to focus primarily on rehabilitation, but a conviction can still result in detention, court-ordered programs, probation, and long-term consequences for education, employment, and other future opportunities. In some instances, prosecutors may even attempt to try a juvenile as an adult to seek significantly increased penalties.

At Combs Waterkotte, we represent minors and their families throughout the Kansas City area. We work to protect a young person’s record and future, providing every opportunity for rehabilitation that we can. Our attorneys advocate for diversion programs and alternative sentencing options, challenge prosecutorial evidence, and fight to keep cases in juvenile court when we can. We understand what’s at stake for both the child and their family, and we provide the best defense possible at every stage of the process.

Federal Crimes Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Federal criminal charges in Kansas City are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court and typically carry harsher penalties than state-level offenses. Federal agencies like the ATF, DEA, and the FBI investigate allegations like wire and mail fraud, conspiracy charges, federal drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and other white-collar crimes. A conviction on federal charges can result in long prison sentences set under strict sentencing guidelines, along with steep fines and long-term consequences on one’s professional and personal life.

At Combs Waterkotte, we defend clients facing federal charges with both a strategic and tactical approach from the earliest stages of the investigation. Our experienced attorneys closely analyze federal indictments, examine complex digital and financial evidence, challenge unlawful searches and seizures, and negotiate with federal prosecutors when we can. When necessary, we’re always prepared to defend our clients aggressively at trial to obtain the best outcome possible for their case.

Traffic Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Dealing with a traffic charge in Kansas City can be a headache. Whether you’re dealing with speeding, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, or a serious traffic offense, these charges come with a range of consequences from issues with your driver’s license to large fines and possibly even jail time. The penalties for traffic violations tend to become more serious with each subsequent offense.

At Combs Waterkotte, our experienced traffic charge lawyers can prove to be the difference between a clean driving history and points on your record. If you’ve been cited or arrested for a traffic charge in Kansas City, don’t wait. Call (314) 900-HELP as soon as you can. We’ll work to provide a strategic defense against your traffic charge, reduce or dismiss charges when we can, and remain ready to achieve an acquittal at trial.

Speak With a Kansas City Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you are arrested or under investigation in Kansas City or its surrounding counties, do not wait to get experienced legal representation. The prosecution is already building a case against you. Combs Waterkotte acts quickly to evaluate your legal options, protect your rights, and develop a strategic defense tailored to your situation. Contact our Kansas City criminal defense lawyers online or call (314) 900-HELP today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward protecting your rights and your future.

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Facing criminal charges in Missouri or Southern Illinois? The legal team at Combs Waterkotte is ready to fight for you. Whether you’re dealing with a DWI/DUI, felony, sex crime, violent offense, or other criminal charge, we provide aggressive defense and personalized legal strategies to protect your future. Fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation.