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Callaway County, MO

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Posted by Emily Herr on March 22, 2024

Criminal Defense Attorney in Callaway County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Callaway County, MO. If you have been charged with a crime, you do not need to be told the gravity of the charges that you are looking at. Even being convicted of a minor crime could cause you to pay a hefty fine, spend time in county jail, or have to spend several years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend a number of years encarcerated in the Missouri state prison system, but following your release you will no longer be entitled to additional privileges or rights that many citizens take for granted. Convicted felons are barred from owning guns, running for office, or holding specific jobs. In addition, in many cases, you will be forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or housing applications, which usually drastically curtails where they can live or work.

The winning Callaway County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many men and women overcome criminal allegations in the Callaway County, MO area. Our firm knows that sometimes decent people can encounter hard times, and our criminal defense lawyers work to limit the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your ability to live life. Our impressive history of success is notable among Callaway County criminal defense law firms, and we pride ourselves on the special focus we place on our personalized touch and availability to our clients — just ask the satisfied Callaway County clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your Callaway County, MO criminal case.

Callaway County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is a scary enough circumstance, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require a heightened amount of legal knowledge and dilligence. United States prosecuting attorneys are driven to win by any means necessary: the U.S. Department of Justice regularly touts that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will stop at nothing to coax a guilty plea, ensure that you spend years in a federal prison, and resign you to live the rest of your life with a federal criminal conviction.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Callaway County, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving positive outcomes for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Callaway County, MO is not afraid to face off against any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight fiercely on our clients’ behalf. We have fought for many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the Callaway County area and helped them put what is a certainly troubling experience behind them. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.

A Full-Service Callaway County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The proficient Callaway County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Callaway County, Missouri possess decades of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a lawyer with our hard-working St. Louis criminal defense firm, you will always receive personalized care and dedicated representation. Regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony, your case and your future are important to us. You have one dedicated attorney on your case and you can reach our lawyers and paralegals any time.

With your very life in jeopardy, you need someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not put off speaking to a Callaway County area criminal defense attorney to help you overcome your criminal charges at any level in the Missouri area. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can get to work building a sound approach to your case and allowing you to breathe you to breathe a little easier as we tackle the looming uncertainty of an impending criminal court proceeding. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to talk to a Callaway County, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. For felony charges, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You could lose years of your life serving time in the state prison system, and once you are labeled a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges that so many of us take for granted. Convicted felons are limited from owning firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or obtaining certain types of employment. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on applications for jobs, housing and other opportunities and resources, which is an obvious impairment to living a successful, lawful life.

If you have already received a felony conviction or believe you are likely to be convicted, you are not without options. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and for certain cases you may be eligible to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Callaway County, MO to learn about how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Callaway County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Callaway County, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are categorized into five classes that reflect the severity. Depending on the class of your felony conviction, the punishment will vary.

  • Class A Felony – minimum of 10 years and no more than 30 years in prison, or life in prison
  • Class B Felony – at least five but no more than 15 years in prison
  • Class C Felony – between three and 10 years in prison
  • Class D Felony – no more than seven years in prison
  • Class E Felony – a maximum of four years in prison

In the end, the outcome of your felony criminal case is influenced by a variety of factors. If you are convicted of a felony, the precise punishment you are sentenced to is decided by the judge. The judge in your case will weigh information such as the situation surrounding the crime, your criminal history and other details.

There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, so a crime typically considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. This can happen if you have prior convictions or in crimes that are determined to have been carried out due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Callaway County representing you, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lower class felony, a felony charge could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to get you a lesser punishment.

You may also be able to have the charged dropped completely, if you have the right circumstances and a diligent and skillful criminal defense attorney. If you have a strong case demonstrating your innocence but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your criminal defense lawyer with Combs Waterkotte will take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then determine whether or not to find you guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Callaway County, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are categorized based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, the maximum punishment allowed for a misdemeanor is a year in jail, and in many cases no jail time is required, but rather the payment of a fine.

  • Class A Misdemeanor – up to one year in jail; a fine of up to $2,000
  • Class B Misdemeanor – up to six months in jail; a fine of up to $1,000
  • Class C Misdemeanor – up to 15 days in jail; a fine of up to $700
  • Class D Misdemeanor – a fine of up to $500

The classification of a misdemeanor can also be enhanced based upon the circumstances or your criminal history. However, you can often avoid jail time for misdemeanors and instead agree to a period of supervision known as probation. As conditions of your probation sentence, you may be required to fulfill additional requirements such as community service or competition of a substance abuse rehabilitation program.

Misdemeanors are not to be taken lightly, but are not as serious as felony convictions and a good criminal defense attorney can help you get an outcome that is minimally disruptive to your life and allows you to move forward in a positive light. Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP to discuss your case and your options with a defense attorney near Callaway County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Callaway County, MO

Did you know Combs Waterkotte also handles traffic tickets and other aspects of traffic law? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our defense attorneys in the Callaway County, MO area can help you through our excellent traffic ticket legal services. Affordable and effective as attorneys against traffic tickets, do not let our record of success in difficult criminal cases intimidate you or dissuade you from hiring us for top traffic ticket legal representation.

Getting a traffic ticket in Callaway County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Callaway County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be facing stiffer penalties.

More and more Callaway County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Callaway County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our exceptional Callaway County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Callaway County, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Callaway County traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Callaway County, MO area attorneys of Combs Waterkotte have the skill and expertise you need from your lawyer in any criminal or personal injury case. Learn more about the types of cases we win below.

Hire Your Callaway County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Finding the right Callaway County, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time incarcerated. In contrast to other Callaway County defense attorneys, our firm places absolute satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you will get anytime access to the Callaway County criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can talk to us about your case, the legal process, or any other topic.

When you are facing criminal charges in Callaway County, from a simple traffic ticket for an improper lane change to severe felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before that we invite you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the skilled Callaway County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.

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