Criminal Attorney Kearney, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal attorney in Kearney, MO. No matter the nature of the charges brought against you, you have the same privileges as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is devoted to aggressively and relentlessly working with the judicial system to secure the best possible results for all of our Kearney, MO clients. We take on all severities of criminal cases from minor traffic offenses to murder and homicide charges. Whether you’re accused of something you didn’t do, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you simply made a poor decision, we will fight hard for you and passionately enforce your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Kearney, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

If you’ve been charged with a a felony or misdemeanor, your greatest fear is having your freedom put at risk. The United States has more inmates per capita than any other country. The best way to avoid incarceration in Kearney, MO is with the help of an accomplished and passionate criminal attorney. We know that, regardless of the circumstances, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. Let us use our knowledge and abilities to get your charges reduced or thrown out and do everything possible to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Contact a criminal attorney in Kearney, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Clay County Resources

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

How a Criminal Attorney in Kearney, MO Can Help

Criminal attorneys know the judicial 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 an arrest, a knowledgeable criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in Kearney, MO, show them evidence that demonstrates it is highly unlikely you committed the crime, and persuade them to drop the charges or reduce the severity of the charges.

Enforce Your Rights

When Kearney, MO law enforcement believes someone committed a crime, they’ll go to great lengths to acquire the evidence needed for a conviction. According to a Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
, testimony obtained in deceitful interrogations can still be presented in court. A criminal attorney will let you know what to say and what not to say and verify law enforcement abides by:

Your Fourth Amendment right against illegal search and seizure
Your Fifth Amendment right to due process
Your Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer

Investigate Your Case

A criminal attorney in Kearney, MO will carry out a thorough investigation, equal to or surpassing that of police, so that we can discover physical evidence and witnesses that will help get your charges reduced, dismissed, or help secure a not guilty verdict. We’ll also examine how the evidence brought against you was gathered, and if any of your rights were violated or if there are holes in the state’s case.

Develop a Defense Strategy

Depending on the quality and amount of evidence the state has, different defense strategies might be applied. In some cases, it may be best to work with the prosecution to make the sentencing less severe. We may request a more lenient sentence because of special factors in your life and in the case. In other cases we may be able to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if we proceed to trial, persuade a jury that the state has not fulfilled the burden of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt. Did you have a reliable alibi? Is the evidence contaminated? Is there evidence suggesting someone else is guilty for the crime? We’ll look into every detail of your case to persuade a jury they cannot ethically convict with what was presented in court.

Provide You With Sound Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be frank with you about the odds of success for different defense strategies. We know everyone wants to be found “not guilty,” or have their charges dismissed. However, sometimes that may be the best decision to make. No matter what, the choice of how to approach your defense is in your hands.

Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Kearney, MO Takes

Your Kearney, MO criminal attorney has experience getting positive client outcomes in many different cases, from Class D misdemeanors to Class A felonies like homicide. Some of the cases we see most often are:

Whatever charges you’re facing in Kearney, MO, Combs Waterkotte will remain non-judgmental and give you the representation you have a right to. We understand that situations get out of hand, or we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For empathetic, dedicated and tenacious legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private Kearney, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?

It can be tempting to use a public defender at no cost, but most of the time you’ll be best served by hiring a private Kearney, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, public defenders often have enormous case loads. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System reported that Kearney, MO public defenders largely do not have enough time to come up with a good defense. While there are excellent public defenders, they are human and the amount of work they have to do may keep them from devoting as much time necessary to your case.

Another study found that the state is more likely to offer a favorable deal to a defendant with a private criminal attorney than one who has a public defender. It also found that private criminal attorneys on average secure prison sentences five years shorter than public defenders, despite private attorneys usually taking on more serious charges.

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

Criminal Attorney Kearney, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near Kearney

Call a Criminal Attorney in Kearney, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a free case evaluation with no disapproval, no matter what the nature of your charges. Our clients and their rights matter to us. You’ll always speak directly to the attorney handling your case — not a paralegal. Whether you did nothing wrong or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll fight hard to get the best outcome in your case. Call criminal attorney in Kearney, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.