St. Francois County, MO

Posted by Emily Herr on June 14, 2022

Criminal Attorney St. Francois County, MO

Criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO. Regardless of the severity 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 committed to pursuing every legal option to secure the best possible results for those in need of criminal defense in St. Francois County, MO. We take on criminal cases ranging from minor traffic offenses to being charges with the death of another. Whether you’re innocent, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you just made a mistake, we will fight hard for you and aggressively 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-risk case review.

If you’ve been charged with a crime, the first thing on your mind is having your freedom put in jeopardy. The United States has more inmates per capita than any other country. The best way to stay out of jail or prison in St. Francois County, MO is with the help of an experienced and committed criminal attorney. We understand that, however you got here, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. Let us use our knowledge and abilities to get your charges reduced or dismissed and pursue every option to avoid incarceration. Reach out to 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 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 an arrest, a knowledgeable criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in St. Francois County, 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 St. Francois County, MO law enforcement believes they have made a legitimate arrest, they have a lot at their disposal to obtain the evidence needed to prosecute. 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 ensure 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 a lawyer

Investigate Your Case

A criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO will carry out a thorough investigation, often more detailed than that of police, so that we can find physical evidence and witnesses that will help get your charges reduced, dismissed, or help secure a not guilty verdict. We’ll also examine 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 are best defended in different ways, depending on the severity of the alleged crimes and the evidence the state has. In some cases, we may recommend to negotiate with the prosecution to reduce the charges. We may advise making a verbal statement in court asking for a lighter sentence because of special factors in your life and in the case. Other times it might be possible to clear your name or, if the case goes to trial, convince a jury that there is not enough evidence to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt. Are witnesses unreliable? Is the evidence contaminated? Is there another legitimate suspect? We’ll explore every option to persuade a jury they cannot morally convict with what was presented in court.

Give You Trustworthy Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be truthful 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. Still, 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 St. Francois County, MO Takes

Your St. Francois County, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in many different 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 St. Francois County, MO, Combs Waterkotte will be compassionate and defend you. 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, devoted and aggressive 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 the truth is you’ll have a better chance of success by enlisting the services of a private St. Francois County, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, public defenders our overworked. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System reported that St. Francois County, MO public defenders largely do not have enough time to provide an adequate defense. While there are great public defenders, they are human and the realities of their job may prevent 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 reported that private criminal attorneys on average secure prison sentences five years shorter than public defenders, despite private attorneys often taking on more serious cases.

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

Criminal Attorney St. Francois County, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near St. Francois County

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 free consultation with no judgment, regardless of your level of guilt and the evidence against you. Our clients and their freedom matter to us. 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 devoted, relentless and compassionate legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can start working for you.