Criminal Attorney Washington County, MO
Criminal attorney in Washington County, MO. No matter the severity of the charges brought against you, you have the same privileges 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 get the best possible results for all of our Washington County, MO clients. We handle all severities of criminal cases from petty offenses to Class A felonies. Whether you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit, you got caught up in something you had nothing to do with or you just made a poor decision, we will fight persistently for you and passionately protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Washington County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.
Anytime you’re dealing with the prospect of a criminal charge, your number one fear is having your freedom put in jeopardy. The United States has has two million people in prisons or jails. The best way to retain your freedom in Washington County, MO is with the legal counsel and advocacy of a veteran and aggressive 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 lowered or thrown out and negotiate with a prosecutor and judge or defend you in trial to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Call a criminal attorney in Washington County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.
What a Criminal Attorney in Washington County, MO Can Do For Your Case
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 Formal Charges
After you’ve been detained, a skilled criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in Washington County, MO, show them evidence that demonstrates it is highly unlikely you committed the crime, and stop the charges from being filed or charge you with a less serious crime.
Enforce Your Rights
When Washington County, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, there are many things they can do to obtain the evidence needed to bring formal charges. According to a Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
, testimony obtained in deceitful interrogations is still valid. 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 searches with a warrant
- Your Fifth Amendment right to a fair trial
- Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation
Carry Out an Investigation
A criminal attorney in Washington County, MO will carry out a meticulous investigation, equal to or eclipsing that of law enforcement’s, so that we can uncover 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 any of your rights were violated or if the state’s evidence is unlikely to be enough for a conviction.
Develop a Defense Strategy
Depending on the quality and amount of evidence against you, we’ll work with you to develop the best defense strategy. In some cases, it may be best to work with the prosecution to make the sentencing less severe. We may be able to ask the judge for a lighter sentence because of mitigating circumstances. Other times we may be able to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if the case goes to trial, persuade a jury that the state has not fulfilled the burden of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt. Are witnesses unreliable? Was key evidence contaminated? Is there evidence suggesting someone else is guilty for the crime? We’ll explore every option to persuade a jury they cannot morally convict with what was presented in court.
Give You Sound Legal Advice
A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be frank with you about the likely outcomes of your case and the best-case scenario given the evidence and charges against you. We know everyone wants to be found “not guilty,” or have their charges dismissed. 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 Washington County, MO Takes
Your Washington County, MO criminal attorney has experience getting positive client outcomes in many different cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like murder. 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 Washington County, MO, Combs Waterkotte will be compassionate and give you the representation you have a right to. We understand that situations get out of hand, or that often people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For sympathetic, dedicated and expert legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.
Public Defender or a Private Washington County, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?
It can be tempting to use a public defender at no cost, but most of the time you’ll be best served by enlisting the services of a private Washington 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 stated that Washington County, MO public defenders largely do not have enough time to come up with an adequate defense. While there are qualified and hard working public defenders, they are human and the amount of work they have to do may keep them from devoting as much time necessary to your case.
Another study found that prosecutors offer better deals when a private defense attorney is involved in order to avoid a lengthy trial. It also stated 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 Washington County, MO:
- Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
- Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Juvenile Defense Lawyer
- Sexual Misconduct Lawyer
- Traffic Ticket Lawyer
- Order of Protection Defense Lawyer
- Speeding Ticket Lawyer
Call a Criminal Attorney in Washington County, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte
When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a free case evaluation that’s free of any criticism, regardless of the nature of your charges. Our clients and their rights matter to us. 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 Washington County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.
