Smithville, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney Smithville, MO

Criminal attorney in Smithville, MO. No matter how you got here, you have rights that are guaranteed by our constitution. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to pursuing every legal option to secure the best possible results for those in need of criminal defense in Smithville, MO. We handle criminal cases ranging from credit card fraud to Class A felonies. Whether you’re innocent, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you simply made a mistake, we will fight tenaciously for you and aggressively protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Smithville, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation consultation.

Anytime you’re dealing with the prospect of 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 avoid incarceration in Smithville, MO is with the aid of an experienced and compassionate criminal attorney. We know that, whatever reason you are in this situation, the prospect of severe sentences and penalties is weighing heavily on you. Let us use our knowledge and abilities to get your charges lowered or thrown out and do everything possible to avoid incarceration. Contact a criminal attorney in Smithville, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Platte County Resources

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

How a Criminal Attorney in Smithville, MO Can Help

There are reasons everyone has a right to effective legal representation, and there are various ways a criminal attorney can help your case:

Delay or Stop Charges From Being Filed

After an arrest, a criminal attorney can talk to a prosecutor or district attorney in Smithville, MO, show them evidence that corroborates your side of the story, and stop the charges from being filed or only bring lesser charges.

Protect Your Rights

When Smithville, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, there are many things they can do to acquire the evidence needed for a conviction. According to a 1969 Supreme Court Decision, police are even allowed to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will stand by your side and make sure that 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 legal representation

Investigate Your Case

A criminal attorney in Smithville, MO will perform an aggressive and methodical investigation, equal to or exceeding that of the prosecution, in an attempt to uncover physical evidence and witnesses that are beneficial to you. We’ll also examine how the evidence brought against you was gathered, and if there were any procedural errors 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 accept a plea deal. We may be able to ask the judge for a lighter sentence because of mitigating circumstances. In other cases it might be possible to prove you could not have committed the crime or, if we proceed to trial, convince a jury that there is not enough evidence to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt. Are witnesses unreliable? Was key evidence contaminated? Is there somebody else that may have committed the crime? We’ll explore every option to persuade a jury they cannot morally find you guilty with what was presented in court.

Give You Honest Legal Advice

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be honest 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 it may make the most sense for you, your family and your freedom to choose another strategy. 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 Smithville, MO Takes

Your Smithville, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in a variety of cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like homicide. Some of the charges we see most often are:

Whatever the nature of what you’re accused of in Smithville, MO, Combs Waterkotte will be compassionate and give you the representation you have a right to. 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, committed and knowledgeable legal representation, get in touch with a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP.

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

The option of a free public defender can be attractive, but usually you’ll be best served by enlisting the services of a private Smithville, 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 stated that Smithville, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to provide a quality defense. While there are qualified and hard working public defenders, they are human and their high case loads may mean they cannot devote the best defense possible.

Another study found that the state is give better deals to defendants with a private criminal attorney than one who has a public defender. It also found that the average prison term is five years shorter with a private criminal attorney, despite private attorneys generally taking on more serious cases.

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

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

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

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a free case review that’s free of any disapproval, regardless of your level of innocence and the evidence against you. Our clients and their rights matter to us. You’ll always speak directly to the attorney handling your case — not a paralegal. Whether you didn’t do what you were accused of or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll give you the devoted, relentless and empathetic legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in Smithville, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.