Criminal attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO. Regardless of how you got here, you have the same rights as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to aggressively and relentlessly protecting your rights to secure the most favorable results for those in need of criminal defense in Lake St. Louis, MO. We take on criminal cases ranging from minor traffic offenses to being charges with the death of another. Whether you’re innocent, a situation was outside of your control or you just made a poor decision, we will fight tenaciously for you and effectively defend your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation consultation.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, the first thing on your mind is losing your freedom and having to spend time in jail or prison. The United States has has two million inmates. The best way to retain your freedom in Lake St. Louis, MO is with the dedicated representation of an accomplished and passionate criminal attorney. We know that, whatever reason you are in this situation, the prospect of the consequences of these charges is weighing heavily on you. Let us fight for you and get your charges lowered or thrown out and negotiate with a prosecutor and judge or defend you in in front of a jury to avoid incarceration. Contact a criminal attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.
St. Charles County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Charles County and Missouri.
How a Criminal Attorney in Lake St. Louis, 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 Charges From Being Filed
After you’ve been detained, a skilled criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and persuade them to drop the charges or only bring lesser charges.
Protect Your Rights
When Lake St. Louis, MO law enforcement believes they have made a legitimate arrest, they’ll go to great lengths to obtain the evidence needed to bring formal charges. According to a 1969 Supreme Court Decision, police are even permitted to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will let you know what to say and what not to say and ensure law enforcement does not breach:
- Your Fourth Amendment right against searches with a warrant
- Your Fifth Amendment right to due process
- Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation
Conduct an Investigation
A criminal attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO will conduct a thorough investigation, equal to or surpassing that of the prosecution, in an attempt to uncover physical evidence and witnesses that will help get your charges reduced, dismissed, or help secure a not guilty verdict. We’ll also be critical of the state’s investigation, and see if there were any procedural errors or if the state’s evidence is unlikely to be enough for a conviction.
Develop a Defense Strategy
Different cases need different defense strategies, depending on the nature of the charges and the evidence the state is in possession of. In some cases, we may advise to negotiate with the prosecution to reduce the charges. We may request a more lenient sentence because of special factors in your life and in the case. In other cases it might be possible to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if we proceed to trial, convince a jury that the state has not fulfilled the burden of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt. Did you have a reliable alibi? Was much of 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 find you guilty with what was presented in court.
Provide You With Reliable Legal Counsel
A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be honest with you about the likely 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 will recommend what we think is best for you and let you make the final decision.
Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO Takes
Your Lake St. Louis, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in numerous cases, from Class D misdemeanors to Class A felonies like homicide. We have gotten great outcomes for our clients facing the following charges:
- Violent Crimes
- Theft/Larceny
- DWI/DUI
- Drug Charges
- Probation Violation
- Child Abuse, Neglect or Abandonment
- Gun Charges
- Sex Crimes
- Juvenile Crimes
- Traffic Tickets
Whatever alleged crime occurred in Lake St. Louis, MO, Combs Waterkotte is not here to pass judgment or rebuke you for poor decisions. We understand that our emotions can get the best of us, or we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For sympathetic, dedicated and tenacious legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.
Public Defender or a Private Lake St. Louis, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?
The option of a free public defender can be attractive, but most of the time you’ll be best served by hiring a private Lake St. Louis, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, public defenders our overworked. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System found that Lake St. Louis, MO public defenders largely do not have enough time to come up with a quality defense. While there are excellent criminal attorneys in the public defense system, they are human and the realities of their job may mean they cannot devote 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 reported that incarceration is, on average, five years less with a private attorney, despite private attorneys generally taking on more serious cases.
Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in Lake St. Louis, MO:
Call a Criminal Attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte
When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk case evaluation that’s free of any judgment, no matter what the nature of your charges. Our clients and their freedom matter to us. You’ll always speak directly to the attorney handling your case — not a paralegal. Whether you did nothing wrong or did something you regret, we’ll fight hard to get the best outcome in your case. Call criminal attorney in Lake St. Louis, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.