Maysville, MO felony defense lawyer. When you’re charged with a felony in the Maysville, MO area, your life can change instantly. Your freedom, your job, your relationships, and your long-term future can all be put at risk. Prosecutors move quickly, and even one wrong move early on can make your situation far more difficult.
If you’re facing a felony charge in the Maysville, MO area, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to dismantle the prosecution’s case, protect your rights, and fight tenaciously for your future. That’s where the experience of a Combs Waterkotte Maysville, MO felony defense lawyer comes in.
Call (314) 900-HELP right away or send us a message to schedule your free, confidential consultation. With 60+ years of combined experience and successfully handling thousands of felony cases just like yours, the Combs Waterkotte team knows how to defend clients in Maysville and across Missouri when everything is on the line.
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Overview of This Article
This article explains why hiring an experienced felony defense lawyer in Maysville, MO is crucial when facing serious criminal charges. It highlights the severe consequences of a felony conviction, the types of cases commonly defended in Maysville, MO, and the importance of securing legal representation quickly. The summary also covers core defense strategies we use at Combs Waterkotte, such as challenging illegal searches, attacking inadequate evidence, and negotiating from a position of strength, and emphasizes why choosing an aggressive, knowledgeable felony defense lawyer can make the difference between prison time and protecting your future.
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Protect Your Life
A felony can have long-term consequences. Act quickly and carefully to protect your future and your livelihood.
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Wondering what happens after your felony arrest? The skilled Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.
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Why Felony Charges in Maysville, MO Are So Serious
Missouri divides crimes into misdemeanors and felonies, and the gap between the two is significant. Felony cases in Maysville, MO often involve allegations of violence, weapons, drugs, major financial loss, or behavior that prosecutors believe endangered others—which is why the State pursues them so aggressively.
A felony conviction in Maysville, MO can lead to:
- Long-term or lengthy prison sentences
- Substantial fines
- A lifelong felony record
- Loss of gun rights
- Losing your right to vote
- Difficulty finding employment, housing, or loans
- Supervised probation with strict conditions
- Serious immigration consequences for noncitizens
This isn’t the time to take a “wait and see” approach. You need a knowledgeable Maysville, MO felony defense lawyer who understands what’s at stake and is ready to fight hard from day one.
Breaking Down Missouri Felony Classes & Sentencing
Missouri categorizes felony charges into five levels—Classes A through E—with Class A carrying the harshest consequences. Each class has its own sentencing range, potential fines, and long-term impact on your future. Knowing the level of your charge helps you understand what’s at risk and why you need an experienced felony defense lawyer in Maysville, MO fighting for you.
Class A Felony in Maysville, MO
A Class A felony conviction carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and can extend to 30 years—or even life.
Class A felonies are some the most serious charges under Missouri law, usually involving extreme violence or major threats to public safety. Because penalties are so severe and options so limited, having an aggressive defense strategy from day one is absolutely critical.
Common examples in Maysville and throughout Missouri include:
- First-degree murder (Missouri Revised Statute § 565.020)
- Forcible rape of a child under 12 (RSMo. § 566.030)
- First-degree robbery (RSMo. § 570.023)
- First-degree kidnapping (RSMo. § 565.110)
- High-level drug trafficking offenses (RSMo. § 579.065)
Class B Felony in Maysville, MO
A Class B felony conviction carries a potential prison sentence of 5 to 15 years.
Class B felonies in Maysville, MO frequently involve allegations of violence, weapons, or entering someone’s home without permission. These charges may not carry life sentences like Class A felonies, but the State still prosecutes them aggressively, and many defendants end up facing significant time behind bars.
Examples include:
- First-degree burglary (RSMo. § 569.160)
- Voluntary manslaughter (RSMo. § 565.023)
- Certain armed criminal action charges (RSMo. § 571.015)
- Some high-level drug distribution cases (RSMo. § 579.020)
Class C Felony in Maysville, MO
A Class C felony conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and/or fines reaching $10,000.
Class C felonies cover a wide range of conduct, from lower-level violence to financial or sex-related offenses. Judges have more flexibility with these cases, and many defendants may be eligible for probation depending on their record and the facts. Strong negotiation and early intervention can greatly affect outcomes for Class C charges.
Examples in Maysville and anywhere else in Missouri include:
- Involuntary manslaughter (RSMo. § 565.024)
- Theft (stealing over $750) (RSMo. § 570.030)
- Second-degree statutory rape (RSMo. § 566.034)
- Drug possession or distribution (felony-level amounts or prior offenses)
Class D Felony in Maysville, MO
A Class D felony in Missouri can carry a sentence of up to 7 years behind bars and fines of up to $10,000.
Class D felony charges often involve nonviolent conduct—such as drug possession, property damage, or domestic issues that escalated suddenly. Many of these cases give your defense lawyer room to negotiate for reductions, probation, or alternative outcomes. In Maysville, MO, it’s common for Class D felonies to arise from momentary lapses in judgment or emotionally charged disputes.
Examples include:
- Third-degree domestic assault (RSMo. § 565.074)
- Fraud and financial crimes (RSMo. Chapter 570)
- Passing bad checks (RSMo. § 570.120)
- Resisting arrest (RSMo. § 575.150)
Class E Felony in Maysville, MO
A Class E felony conviction can result in a prison sentence of up to 4 years and/or fines reaching $10,000.
Class E felony charges may be the least serious felony type in Maysville, MO, but they’re still felonies that can follow you for life. They often arise from conduct the State says was negligent, unsafe, or created a risk of harm. Even without intent, the consequences can be severe if not handled immediately.
Examples in Maysville, MO include:
- Criminal negligence (RSMo. § 562.016)
- Several vehicle-related crimes, such as DWI (RSMo. § 577.010), Leaving the Scene of an Accident (RSMo. § 577.060), Driving While Revoked (RSMo. § 302.321)
- Lower-level drug or property crimes (depending on circumstances)
When you’re charged with a felony in Maysville, MO, the smartest move you can make is hiring an experienced felony defense lawyer who can control the narrative and fight back with proven strategic defenses. Call Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to get help fast.
Why You Need a Maysville, MO Felony Defense Lawyer — Fast
Maysville, MO felony cases move fast—often faster than people expect. Police start collecting evidence. Prosecutors work to lock in witness statements. And every day you wait, your defense gets harder. You need an advocate now, not later.
Our Maysville, MO felony defense attorneys take action immediately to:
- Protect your rights immediately
- Begin building your defense *before* prosecutors file formal charges
- Stop you from accidentally incriminating yourself
- Secure crucial evidence before it’s lost or altered
- Challenge unconstitutional police conduct at every step
- Push for lower bond and fair release terms
- Investigate witness credibility and police conduct
Facing Maysville, MO felony charges? When you choose a Combs Waterkotte felony defense lawyer in or around Maysville, MO, you’re not just selecting a leading felony defense lawyer in Maysville, MO and throughout Missouri – you’re securing your rights, your freedom, and your future. In addition to an experienced felony defense lawyer, our legal team is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for Maysville, MO residents:
High-Impact Defense Tactics Our Felony Attorneys Use in Maysville, MO
No two felony cases in Maysville, MO are alike. That’s why Combs Waterkotte crafts a defense plan built around the exact facts, evidence, and challenges in *your* situation. Proven felony defense strategies often involve:
1. Challenging the Required Elements of the Charge
The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. If even one element fails, you win.
2. Fourth Amendment Challenges
We look closely at how officers handled the stop, arrest, and search. If they crossed legal boundaries, we expose it. Any unconstitutional search may lead to the evidence being thrown out—and once evidence disappears, charges often do too.
3. Exposing Weak or Nonexistent Intent
Intent is a key element in many felony cases in Maysville, MO. We challenge the prosecution’s narrative, highlight misunderstandings, and use facts—not assumptions—to undermine their theory of criminal intent.
4. Challenging Evidence That Doesn’t Hold Up
We use our deep investigative resources and expert partnerships in Maysville and across Missouri to dig into the evidence and expose its weaknesses. That includes:
- Questionable forensic work
- Missing chain-of-custody records
- Misidentifications or unreliable witnesses
- Contradictory or sloppy police documentation
- Coerced statements
5. Negotiation From a Position of Strength
Prosecutors change their tone when they know your Maysville, MO defense lawyer is ready for trial.
A trial-ready defense often results in:
- Full dismissals
- Charge reductions
- Alternative sentencing
- Treatment or rehabilitation options
- Deferred prosecution
Why Hire a Combs Waterkotte Felony Defense Lawyer in Maysville, MO?
A felony defense lawyer shouldn’t just “represent” you. They should protect you, guide you, and fight for you. At Combs Waterkotte, we treat your case like what it truly is—personal, urgent, and life-changing.
Our defense attorneys are:
- Dedicated to protecting you—not pleasing prosecutors
- Deeply knowledgeable about courts and prosecutors in the Maysville, MO area
- Proactive, tactical, and relentless in our approach
- Highly experienced in defending major felonies
- Driven by results and client success
Speak With a Combs Waterkotte Maysville, MO Felony Defense Lawyer Today
Felony charges in Maysville, MO are life-altering. Whether the accusation involves violence, weapons, drugs, or a lower-level offense, you’re facing consequences that could follow you forever. You shouldn’t face that kind of pressure alone.
At Combs Waterkotte, we bring the experience, the firepower, and the strategy needed to take control of your case and push back hard. We don’t judge you—we understand that good people get caught in bad situations—and we don’t give up. Call us as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation with a Maysville, MO felony defense lawyer. Your defense starts the moment you reach out.
