Pettis County, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney Pettis County, MO

Criminal attorney in Pettis County, MO. Regardless of the nature of the charges brought against you, you have the same rights as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is devoted to pursuing every legal option to get the most favorable results for those in need of criminal defense in Pettis County, MO. We take on all severities of criminal cases from minor traffic offenses to Class A felonies. Whether you’re accused of something you didn’t do, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you just made a poor decision, we will fight tenaciously for you and passionately protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Pettis County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-risk case review.

Anytime you’re facing a criminal charge, the worst-case scenario is losing your freedom and having to spend time in jail or prison. The United States has more inmates per capita than any other country. The best way to stay out of jail or prison in Pettis County, MO is with the help of an experienced and aggressive criminal attorney. We understand that, regardless of the circumstances, you are likely anxious about how these charges may upend your life. We’ll work hard to get your charges reduced or dismissed and pursue every option to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Reach out to a criminal attorney in Pettis County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Pettis County Resources

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

What a Criminal Attorney in Pettis County, MO Can Do For Your Case

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 knowledgeable criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in Pettis County, MO, show them evidence that corroborates your side of the story, and persuade them to drop the charges or charge you with a less serious crime.

Enforce Your Rights

When Pettis County, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, they’ll go to great lengths to acquire the evidence needed to bring formal charges. According to a Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
, evidence obtained in deceitful interrogations is still valid. A criminal attorney will let you know what to say and what not to say and make sure that law enforcement respects:

Your Fourth Amendment right against illegal search and seizure
Your Fifth Amendment right to a fair trial
Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation

Investigate Your Case

A criminal attorney in Pettis County, MO will perform a thorough investigation, equal to or eclipsing that of law enforcement’s, in an attempt to discover physical evidence and witnesses that are beneficial to you. We’ll also examine how the evidence brought against you was acquired, and 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 need different defense strategies, depending on the nature of the charges and the evidence the state is in possession of. In some cases, it may be best to accept a plea deal. We may advise making a verbal statement in court asking for leniency because of special factors in your life and in the case. In other cases we may be able to prove you could not have committed the crime or, if the case goes 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? Is the evidence contaminated? Is there another legitimate suspect? We’ll look into every detail of your case to persuade a jury they cannot morally return a guilty verdict with what was presented in court.

Give You Trustworthy Legal Advice

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be open with you about your chances of acquittal or getting the charges dismissed. We know everyone wants to be found “not guilty,” or have their charges dismissed. Still, sometimes that may be the best decision to make. 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 Pettis County, MO Takes

Your Pettis County, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in numerous cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like homicide. We have gotten great outcomes for our clients facing the following charges:

Whatever alleged crime occurred in Pettis County, MO, Combs Waterkotte is not here to pass judgment or rebuke you for poor decisions. 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, dedicated and knowledgeable legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private Pettis 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 enlisting the services of a private Pettis 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 found that Pettis County, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to provide an adequate defense. While there are qualified and diligent criminal attorneys in the public defense system, they are human and the amount of work they have to do may keep them from devoting the best defense possible.

Another study found that prosecutors offer better deals when a private defense attorney is involved in order to avoid a lengthy trial. It also found that prison sentences is, on average, five years less with a private attorney, despite private attorneys usually taking on more serious cases.

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

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

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

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-obligation case review that’s free of any criticism, no matter what your level of innocence and the evidence against you. We sincerely care about all of our clients and about getting them the best result. You’ll have the cell phone number of the criminal attorney working on your case. Whether you’re innocent of the charges or did something you regret, we’ll give you the dedicated, relentless and empathetic legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in Pettis County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.