Criminal Defense Lawyers in Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois Office Information
Top-Rated Defense Attorneys Serving All of Southern Illinois
Criminal charges can disrupt every part of your life—but with Combs Waterkotte’s highly respected Southern Illinois criminal defense attorneys, you don’t have to go through it alone. Our law firm represents clients facing DUI, serious drug charges, sexual abuse, throughout Southern Illinois.
If you are up against felony charges such as sexual assault, domestic battery, murder, or aggravated DUI, our skilled attorneys know how to aggressively defend you. We also handle federal offenses, like federal sex crimes, federal conspiracy charges, and others.
The prosecution is already building its case against you. Do not wait to start preparing yours. Call (618) 88-CRIME right away or reach out online for a free consultation with a Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyer who will fight for your freedom and your future. We proudly serve clients across Southern Illinois.
Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Southern Illinois
- Criminal Defense Lawyer Southern Illinois
- DUI Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Violent Crimes Southern Illinois
- Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Weapons Charges Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Possession of Child Pornography Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Public Indecency Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Prostitution Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Grooming Defense Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Unauthorized Video & Live Transmission Lawyer Southern Illinois
- DUI First Offense Lawyer Southern Illinois
- DUI Second Offense Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Multiple DUI Offenses Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Sexual Misconduct Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Sexual Assault Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Sex Offender Registration Violations Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Sexual Relations Within Families Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Solicitation and Sexual Exploitation of a Child Lawyer Southern Illinois
- Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child Lawyer Southern Illinois
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Southern Illinois
Criminal defense lawyers in Southern Illinois serving Belleville, O’Fallon, Alton, Granite City, East St. Louis, Carbondale, Marion, Mt. Vernon, St. Clair County, Madison County, Williamson County, Jackson County, and Jefferson County. If you’ve been arrested for a felony, misdemeanor, DUI, violent crime, sexual offense, traffic violation, or any other charges in Southern Illinois, you need to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Combs Waterkotte provides aggressive criminal defense for clients living in Southern Illinois counties and the surrounding areas. We act fast to protect your legal rights, challenge the evidence in your case, and fight to reduce or dismiss your charges. If your case goes to court, we’ll be ready to fight for you at trial to earn an acquittal. From your initial consultation through to the conclusion of your case, we deliver unrelenting advocacy and clear client communications. Contact Combs Waterkotte today for a free, confidential consultation for your Southern Illinois criminal case.
Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Southern Illinois
Combs Waterkotte’s Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyers have successfully handled over 10,000 cases. When your future is on the line, you can trust us to do everything we can to help you.
We’ll work with you to find the best possible resolution to your case, no matter the charge, the offense, or your criminal history. Common case types we handle include:
Felony Lawyer Southern Illinois
A felony in Illinois is a serious offense that can result in lengthy prison sentences:
- Class X Felony — 6 to 30 years in prison (extended term: up to 60 years in prison)
- Class 1 Felony — 4 to 15 years in prison
- Class 2 Felony — 3 to 7 years in prison
- Class 3 Felony — 2 to 5 years in prison
- Class 4 Felony — 1 to 3 years in prison
Common felony charges we help defend against in Southern Illinois include:
- Violent Crimes, like murder, manslaughter, and assault
- Sex Crimes, like sexual abuse, sexual assault, and possession of child pornography
- DUI Offenses, including multiple DUIs
- Theft Crimes, like burglary
- Drug Crimes
- Weapons Crimes
Misdemeanor Lawyer Southern Illinois
A misdemeanor in Illinois is a crime that carries a prison sentence of less than one year:
- Class A Misdemeanor — 364 days in jail or less and a fine up to $2,500
- Class B Misdemeanor — 6 months in jail or less and a fine up to $1,500
- Class C Misdemeanor — 30 days in jail or less and a fine up to $1,500
Common misdemeanor charges we help defend against in Southern Illinois include:
While the penalties for misdemeanors may not be as steep as the penalties for felonies, early legal intervention is still vital in misdemeanor cases. A good attorney can save you from jail time, fines, and convictions on your permanent criminal record.
DUI Lawyer Southern Illinois
A DUI offense in Southern Illinois is a very serious matter. DUIs can result in heavy fines, jail fines, and the loss of your driver’s license. In some cases, you may even have to put a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) on your vehicle. The more DUI convictions you have on your record in Southern Illinois, the harsher the penalties become. While a first-time DUI offense may come with a misdemeanor charge, multiple DUI offenses can carry a felony charge with years in prison attached.
At Combs Waterkotte, we’ve handled thousands of DUIs charges in Southern Illinois. We know how area police and prosecutors approach these charges, and we strategically address their tactics in order to weaken their case and earn you the best possible outcome. If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Southern Illinois, we’ll fight to get you into a diversion program, a reduction or dismissal of your charges, and even an acquittal at trial if we need to.
Violent Crimes Lawyer Southern Illinois
Violent crime charges in Southern Illinois are very serious. Whether the allegation is murder, manslaughter, assault, or battery, violent crimes are often charged as felonies in Southern Illinois and come with lengthy prison sentences. Given the violent nature of these crimes, prosecutors throughout the Southern Illinois area tend to pursue convictions in these cases aggressively, often seeking the maximum prison sentence allowed under state law.
If you’ve been accused of a violent crime in Southern Illinois, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to get in touch with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. At Combs Waterkotte, we’ll examine all of the evidence in your case, question witness statements, and ensure your rights weren’t violated during police investigations. We’ll do everything we can to help get your violent crimes charge reduced or dismissed.
Federal Crimes Lawyer Southern Illinois
Federal crimes are as serious as charges get in Southern Illinois. Instead of being handled by state or local police, federal crimes like conspiracy, federal murder, federal sex crimes, and federal drug crimes are investigated by agencies like The Department of Homeland Security, the ATF, the DEA, and the FBI. These cases are typically handled in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and, needless to say, they potentially carry steep penalties like high fines and long prison sentences.
At Combs Waterkotte, we’re equipped to handle the severity and scrutiny that come with federal charges in Southern Illinois. Our combined six decades of legal experience and our trial-ready approach mean we’re ready to take on your federal charges, whatever they may be. We’ll go over your case meticulously, challenging every bit of evidence and probing every step of police procedure and interrogation. We’ll build a strong defense tailor made to minimize the impact of your federal charges on your life and career.
Sex Crimes Lawyer Southern Illinois
Sex crimes are very serious offenses under Illinois law. Whether it’s sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child pornography, or any other form of sexual misconduct, these offenses are often charged as felonies and carry major prison sentences. Plus, prosecutors throughout the Southern Illinois area aggressively pursue convictions in these cases, seeking the maximum possible sentence under the law.
At Combs Waterkotte, we’re well equipped to defend against sex crimes charges in Southern Illinois. We’ll thoroughly investigate every detail of your case to ensure your civil rights weren’t violated during the investigation. We’ll challenge witness statements, scrutinize forensic evidence, and work with prosecutors to reduce charges when possible. We’ll fight to dismiss charges where we can and, if your case goes to trial, we’ll fight for a not-guilty verdict.
Weapons Charges Lawyer Southern Illinois
The state of Illinois has some of the tightest gun laws in the country. As a result, weapons charges tend to be a very serious matter in Southern Illinois. If you’re facing possession of a firearm without a valid firearm owner’s identification (FOID), gun charges stemming from a drug case, or a weapons charge alongside the commission of a violent crime, you could be facing multiple felony charges and lengthy prison sentences.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have experience navigating the complex firearm laws of the state of Illinois, and we’re prepared to defend against weapons charges of all types. We’ll challenge any improper searches and seizures committed by law enforcement and ensure your rights weren’t violated during police interrogations. We’ll fight to reduce or dismiss your charges and, if your case goes to trial, we’ll fight hard to earn an acquittal.
Domestic Violence Lawyer Southern Illinois
Police and prosecutors in Southern Illinois treat domestic violence charges very seriously. If you’re convicted of stalking, harassment, domestic battery, or violation of an order of protection, you could face serious consequences, especially for repeat offenses. Not only could you face fines, jail time, and prison sentences, but a conviction could be used against you in any custody issues you might be facing.
Combs Waterkotte’s Southern Illinois defense attorneys are prepared to handle the entire spectrum of domestic violence allegations. We’ve handled these cases before, achieving favorable outcomes for hundreds of clients throughout the Southern Illinois area. We’ll do everything we can to reduce or even dismiss your domestic violence charges to ensure they have a minimal impact on your life.
Drug Charges Lawyer Southern Illinois
Facing a drug charge in Southern Illinois is no small problem. Illinois has some of the toughest drug laws in the country, and they have the penalties to match. Whether you’re facing trafficking, manufacturing, possession, or possession with intent to deliver charges, Illinois law outlines a large list of controlled substances, and the penalties for violating them include long stretches in prison.
If you’re facing a drug charge in Southern Illinois, Combs Waterkotte can help. We have experience navigating Illinois’s complex drug laws and we’ve helped hundreds of clients get their drug charges reduced or dismissed. We’ll scrutinize every aspect of your case and its details to get you the best possible outcome and ensure your Southern Illinois drug charges have a minimal impact on your life.
Traffic Violations Lawyer Southern Illinois
A traffic violation in Southern Illinois can range anywhere from a minor headache to a major issue. Relatively minor offenses like speeding or making an illegal U-turn may result in a fine or some points on your driving record, while major offenses like aggravated DUI or vehicular endangerment are felony offenses that carry serious penalties like extended prison sentences. Plus, the more offenses on your record, the harsher the penalties tend to be.
Whether you’re facing a simple speeding ticket or a felony DUI, Combs Waterkotte can help you deal with your traffic violation in Southern Illinois. From challenging illegal traffic stops to scrutinizing the calibration of breathalyzer equipment, we’ll use our legal know-how to minimize the impact of your traffic violation on your life and your driving record, no matter which charge you’re facing.
Speak With a Southern Illinois Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you’re under investigation or have been arrested for a crime in St. Clair County, Madison County, Jefferson County, or anywhere in the Southern Illinois area, don’t wait to hire a criminal defense attorney. Prosecutors are already building a case against you, and you need legal representation. Combs Waterkotte will work fast to evaluate your legal options, protect your rights, and develop a legal defense designed just for you and your case. Contact our Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyers online or call (314) 900-HELP today for a free consultation. Don’t wait — take the first step to protect your rights, freedom, and future today.
