Bates County, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney Bates County, MO

Criminal attorney in Bates County, MO. Regardless of how you got here, you have the same privileges as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to pursuing every legal option to secure the most favorable results for those in need of criminal defense in Bates County, MO. We take on criminal cases ranging from misdemeanor offenses to murder and homicide charges. Whether you’re innocent, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you simply did something you now regret, we will fight hard for you and effectively protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Bates County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.

If you’ve been charged with a crime, the worst-case scenario is losing your freedom and being incarcerated. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration rates. The best way to retain your freedom in Bates County, MO is with the legal counsel and advocacy of a knowledgeable and aggressive criminal attorney. We know that, whatever reason you are in this situation, you are likely anxious about how these charges may alter your life. We’ll work hard to get your charges reduced or dismissed and do everything possible to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Reach out to a criminal attorney in Bates County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Bates County Resources

Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Bates County and Missouri.

How a Criminal Attorney in Bates County, MO Can Help

Criminal attorneys know the legal system, the laws that guide them, how to talk to a prosecutor and how to defend you in front of a jury. Some of what we can help with are:

Delay or Stop Formal Charges

After you’ve been detained, a criminal attorney can talk to a prosecutor or district attorney in Bates County, MO, show them evidence that demonstrates it is highly unlikely you committed the crime, and convince them to drop the charges or reduce the severity of the charges.

Protect Your Rights

When Bates County, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, they have a lot at their disposal to obtain the evidence needed to prosecute. According to a 1969 Supreme Court Decision, police are even permitted to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will stand by your side and make sure that law enforcement respects:

Your Fourth Amendment right against searches with probable cause
Your Fifth Amendment right to a fair trial
Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation

Perform an Investigation

A criminal attorney in Bates County, MO will carry out a rigorous investigation, often more detailed than that of law enforcement’s, in an attempt to discover physical evidence and witnesses that are favorable to your case. We’ll also examine the state’s investigation, and see if there were any procedural errors or if the state’s evidence is unlikely to be sufficient for a conviction.

Develop a Defense Strategy

Different cases are best defended in different ways, depending on the nature of the alleged crimes and the evidence the state is using. In some cases, it may be best to accept a plea deal. We may request a lighter sentence because of mitigating circumstances. In other cases it might be possible to prove you did not committed the crime or, if the case goes to trial, persuade a jury that there is not enough evidence to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt. Are witnesses unreliable? Was important evidence contaminated? Is there evidence suggesting someone else is guilty for the crime? We’ll do everything possible to persuade a jury they cannot morally find you guilty with what was presented in court.

Give You Sound Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be frank with you about the potential outcomes of your case and the best-case scenario given the evidence and charges against you. We understand you’d like to be acquitted. Still, sometimes the realistic most favorable option can be accepting some of the charges. No matter what, we’ll be by your side and defend you how based on the decision you make for yourself.

Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Bates County, MO Takes

Your Bates County, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in many different cases, from Class D misdemeanors to Class A felonies like homicide. We have gotten great outcomes for our clients facing the following charges:

Whatever the nature of what you’re accused of in Bates County, MO, Combs Waterkotte knows that it does not define your character. We understand that nobody’s perfect all the time, or that often people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For sympathetic, devoted and aggressive legal representation, get in touch with a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private Bates County, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?

It can be tempting to use a public defender at no cost, but usually you’ll be best served by hiring a private Bates County, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, a public defender may not be able to devote as much time to you case as necessary. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System reported that Bates County, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to provide a quality defense. While there are qualified and diligent public defenders, they are human and the amount of work they have to do may mean they cannot devote as much time necessary to your case.

Another study found that prosecutors offer better deals when a private defense attorney is involved in order to avoid a lengthy trial. It also reported that private criminal attorneys on average secure prison sentences five years shorter than public defenders, despite private attorneys often taking on more serious cases.

Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in Bates County, MO:

Criminal Attorney Bates County, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near Bates County

Call a Criminal Attorney in Bates County, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a free case review with no judgment, regardless of how serious the allegations are. Our clients and their freedom matter to us. You’ll always have access to communication directly with the attorney assigned to your case. Whether you didn’t do what you were accused of or did something you regret, we’ll fight hard to get the best outcome in your case. Call criminal attorney in Bates County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.