Criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO. No matter the severity of the charges brought against you, you have rights that are guaranteed by the law of this country. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is committed to aggressively and relentlessly working with the judicial system to secure the best possible results for those in need of criminal defense in St. Francois County, MO. We take on all levels of criminal cases from misdemeanor offenses to serious felony. Whether you’re accused of something you didn’t do, you got caught up in something you had nothing to do with or you simply did something you now regret, we will fight persistently for you and effectively enforce your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation case review.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, your number one fear is losing your freedom and being incarcerated. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration rates. The best way to avoid incarceration in St. Francois County, MO is with the help of a knowledgeable and aggressive criminal attorney. We know that, regardless of the circumstances, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. We’ll work hard to 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. Call a criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.
St. Francois County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Francois County and Missouri.
How a Criminal Attorney in St. Francois 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 skilled criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in St. Francois County, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and convince them to drop the charges or only bring lesser charges.
Enforce Your Rights
When St. Francois County, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, they have a lot at their disposal 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 make sure that law enforcement does not breach:
- 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 St. Francois County, MO will conduct a thorough investigation, often more in-depth than that of the prosecution, 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 acquired, and if there were any procedural errors or if the state’s case does not add up.
Develop a Defense Strategy
Different cases need different defense strategies, depending on the nature of the charges and the evidence the state is using. In some cases, we may advise to work with the court to mitigate the sentencing. We may be able to ask the judge for a more lenient sentence because of mitigating circumstances. Other times it might be possible to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if the case goes to trial, convince a jury that the standard beyond a reasonable doubt has not been met. 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 you based on the evidence.
Provide You With Honest Legal Advice
A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be open 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 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 St. Francois County, MO Takes
Your St. Francois County, MO criminal attorney has experience defending our clients’ rights in a variety of cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges 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 the nature of what you’re accused of in St. Francois County, MO, Combs Waterkotte is not here to pass judgment or rebuke you for poor decisions. We understand that situations get out of hand, or that often people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For empathetic, dedicated and knowledgeable legal representation, get in touch with a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.
Public Defender or a Private St. Francois 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 St. Francois County, 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 St. Francois County, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to provide a good defense. While there are qualified and meticulous criminal attorneys in the public defense system, 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 are 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 generally taking on more serious charges.
Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in St. Francois County, MO:
- Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
- Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
- Weapons Crime Attorney
- DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer
Call a Criminal Attorney in St. Francois County, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte
When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk case evaluation with no judgment, regardless of the nature of your charges. We genuinely care about all of our clients and about getting them the best result. You’ll always have access to communication directly with the attorney assigned to your case. 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 St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can start working for you.
