Criminal Defense Attorney St. Ann, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Ann, MO. If you have been arrested for a crime, you do not need to be told the grave nature of the charges that you are looking at. Just being convicted of a small misdemeanor could cause you to pay a sizable fine, do time in county jail, or have to spend several years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend multiple years encarcerated in the Missouri state prisons, but after your release from prison you will no longer have additional rights or privileges that most citizens take for granted. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning firearms, running for office, or holding certain jobs. In addition, in many situations, you could be forced to admit your status as a convicted felon on job or rent applications, which usually heavily limits where they can work or live.

The experienced St. Ann, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many men and women overcome criminal allegations in the St. Ann, MO area. Our firm gets that sometimes decent people can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and our criminal defense lawyers work to limit the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your ability to live life. Our impressive history of winning distinguishes us from other St. Ann 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 St. Ann 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 St. Ann, MO criminal case.

St. Ann, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is intimidating enough, but when the charges you are facing are federal charges, they demand an extra level of legal knowledge and dilligence. Prosecutors for the United States courts are poised to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department regularly boasts that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will use the full arsenal of resources at their disposal to get 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 St. Ann, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving favorable results for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near St. Ann, MO is not afraid to square off against any opponent — be it local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight tirelessly on our clients’ behalf. We have stood up for many St. Ann-area residents who were facing all sorts 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 St. Ann, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The skilled St. Ann, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

• 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 St. Ann, Missouri have decades of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a criminal defense attorney with our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you can be confident that you will always receive dedicated service and individual attention and care. Regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony, we treat your case, and your life, with the utmost care. You have one dedicated attorney on your case and you can reach our lawyers and paralegals any time.

With your freedom and future on the line, it is imperative that you find someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your rights. Do not put off talking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in St. Ann, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can dedicate our time and effort toward 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 get in touch with a criminal defense attorney in St. Ann, MO about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. When the crime is a felony, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You may be sentenced to years encarcerated in state prisons, and as a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges that many people take for granted. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are barred from purchasing or possessing 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 job or rental applications, which is an obvious limination 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 eligible to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Consult a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in St. Ann, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our St. Ann, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in St. Ann, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are classified into categories 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 – a maximum of seven years in prison
• Class E Felony – no more than four years in prison

Ultimately, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case is influenced by a number of variables. If you are convicted of a felony, the exact punishment you are sentenced to will be decided by the judge. The judge in your case will weigh information such as the specific circumstances of the crime, your personal history and other details.

However, there are exceptions to the guidelines above. The classification of some crimes may be enhanced, so what is usually considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. This can happen for some defendants with prior convictions or in crimes that are determined to have been carried out based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with the representation and dedication of a talented St. Ann criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lower felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to get you a less serious.

You may also be able to avoid a criminal conviction altogether, 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 determine whether or not you are guilty. Contact our St. Ann, 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. Unlike prison time and possible parole that comes with a felony, 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

The classification of a misdemeanor can also 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 St. Ann, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Ann, 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 St. Ann, MO area 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.

Being written a traffic ticket in St. Ann, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your St. Ann traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be looking at increased penalties.

More and more St. Ann drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Ann traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even small 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 affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional St. Ann traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in St. Ann, 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 start the process of fixing your St. Ann traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading St. Ann, 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 St. Ann, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Finding the right St. Ann, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time incarcerated. Unlike other St. Ann defense attorneys, our firm places absolute satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be sure that you will get 24/7 access to the St. Ann criminal defense lawyer that is 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 St. Ann, from a small moving violation for speeding to federal felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before you call we suggest that you take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the experienced St. Ann, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.