Criminal Defense Attorney Plattsburg, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Plattsburg, MO. If you have been arrested for a criminal offense, you understand the gravity of the charges that you are facing. Just being convicted of a minor crime could cause you to pay an expensive fine, serve time behind bars, or have to spend multiple years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend several years encarcerated in the Missouri state prison system, but following your release you will be further punished via loss of additional rights or privileges that many citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are barred from owning guns, running in an election, or holding certain occupations. Also, in many situations, you will be mandated to mark your status as a convicted felon on rent or employment applications, which often drastically curtails where they can work or live.

The winning Plattsburg, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many men and women rise above criminal convictions in the Plattsburg, MO area. Our firm realizes that sometimes decent people can encounter hard times, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the detremental consequences a criminal conviction has on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of success is notable among Plattsburg criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the center of all that we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Plattsburg clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Give us a call today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Plattsburg, MO criminal case.

Plattsburg, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is a scary enough situation, but criminal charges at the federal level demand an extra caliber of legal acumen and care. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department regularly brags that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are 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 Plattsburg, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Plattsburg, MO is not scared to take on any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight tirelessly on our clients’ behalf. We have helped many Plattsburg-area residents who were looking at all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is a certainly harrowing experience in their rear-view mirror. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.

A Full-Service Plattsburg, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The skilled Plattsburg, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, including:

• Motor Vehicle Tampering
• Assault and Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges and Possession

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Plattsburg, Missouri have decades of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a lawyer with our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you will always get quality customer service and a thoughtful defense strategy. 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 on the line, it is imperative that you find someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not procrastinate reaching out to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in Plattsburg, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the sooner we can dedicate our time and effort toward building 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 get in touch with a criminal defense attorney in Plattsburg, MO about your criminal case.

What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?

A criminal conviction, even for a minor infraction or misdemeanor could result in a sizable fine, county jail time, and/or years of supervised probation. When the crime is a felony, a conviction can have a much more significant impact on your life. You may be sentenced to years in the state prison system, and as a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges that so many of us take for granted. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are prohibited from owning firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are required 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 are already a felon or believe you are likely to be convicted, do not lose hope. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be able to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Plattsburg, MO to explore your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to find out what our Plattsburg, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in Plattsburg, Missouri

Under criminal law in Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are classified into categories based on the severity. Based on what class felony you are convicted of, 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 – a maximum of seven years in prison
• Class E Felony – a maximum of four years in prison

Ultimately, the outcome of your felony criminal case depends on a variety of factors. If you receive a felony conviction, the precise punishment you are sentenced to will be decided by the judge. They will weigh information including the specific circumstances of the crime, your personal history and other details.

There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, meaning a crime typically classified as a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied if you have prior convictions or for crimes that are determined to have been carried out based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. On the other hand, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Plattsburg representing you, your original Class B felony could be dropped down to a lower class felony, a felony could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you a less severe.

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 your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your Combs Waterkotte criminal defense lawyer will present your case meticulously to your peers in a jury trial, leaving the jury members to then decide whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our Plattsburg, MO felony defense attorneys today to discuss your case and your options and receive quality counsel and representation.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

As with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are categorized based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, misdemeanors are punishable by no more than one year in county or city jail or may just involve fines.

• 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

Similar to felonies, sentencing for a misdemeanor can be enhanced in certain cases. 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 Plattsburg, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Plattsburg, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our Plattsburg-based defense attorneys can help you through our expert 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 Plattsburg, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Plattsburg traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree 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 in general cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be looking at harsher penalties.

An increasing number of Plattsburg drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Plattsburg traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier Plattsburg traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Plattsburg, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Plattsburg traffic ticket fixed.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Plattsburg, 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.

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney

Hire Your Plattsburg, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Selecting the right Plattsburg, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time incarcerated. Unlike other Plattsburg defense attorneys, our firm places total client satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be confident that you will get 24/7 access to the Plattsburg criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can discuss your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you have been indicted on criminal charges in Plattsburg, from a simple traffic ticket for an improper lane change to severe felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before you call we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the experienced Plattsburg, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.