Criminal Defense Attorney St. Charles County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Charles County, MO. If you have been arrested for a crime, you do not need to be told that the situation is to be taken seriously. Even being convicted of a small infraction could force you to pay a large fine, spend time in county jail, or have to spend multiple years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only magnifies these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend several years in the Missouri state prisons, but after your release from prison you will no longer be entitled to certain rights or privileges that a large number of people take for granted. Convicted felons are banned from owning guns, running in an election, or holding specific occupations. Also, in many instances, you could be forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on rental or job applications, which often severely curtails where they can work or live.

The skilled St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many St. Charles County-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm understands that sometimes decent people can encounter hard times, and our criminal defense firm works to minimize the effect criminal charges have on your life, freedom, and reputation. Our record of success is notable among St. Charles 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 St. Charles County clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your St. Charles County, MO criminal case.

St. Charles County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

An allegation of any crime is a scary enough proposition, but criminal charges at the federal level require a heightened level of legal acumen and focus. Prosecutors for the United States courts are poised to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department regularly advertises that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. The vast majority of those convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will pull out every trick in the book to induce a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a Bureau of Prisons facility, and resign you to live the rest of your life with a federal criminal conviction.

At Combs Waterkotte, our St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near St. Charles 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 St. Charles County area and helped them put what is an undoubtably 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 St. Charles County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The skilled St. Charles County, 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 St. Charles County, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer from our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you will always receive dedicated service and individual attention and care. Regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony, your case and your future are important to us. You can reach and speak to your dedicated defense attorney and legal team at any time.

With your very life hanging in the balance, you need someone to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not wait reaching out to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your criminal charges at any level in the Missouri area. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the sooner we can get to work building your case and lifting the weight of the unknown from your shoulders. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to speak to a St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?

A criminal conviction, even for a low class misdemeanor could result in a sizable fine, time to serve in jail, and/or years of supervised probation. For felony charges, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You may be sentenced to years encarcerated in state prisons, 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. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are barred 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 job or rental applications, which often severely limits where you can work or live.

If you are already a felon or believe you are likely to be convicted, you are not without options. 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 St. Charles County, MO to learn about how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our St. Charles County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in St. Charles County, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are classified into categories that reflect the severity of the crime. 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 – no more than seven years in prison
• Class E Felony – no more than four years in prison

In the end, the outcome of your felony criminal case is influenced by a variety of variables. If you receive a felony conviction, the exact punishment you are sentenced to will be determined by the judge. The judge in your case will take into account information such as the specific circumstances of the crime, your criminal history and other details.

However, there are exceptions to the guidelines above. The classification of some crimes may be enhanced, meaning a crime usually 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. Conversely, with the representation and dedication of a talented St. Charles County criminal defense attorney, your original Class B felony could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to obtain a lesser punishment.

In some cases with the right circumstances and the skill of an experienced defense attorney, you can have the charges dropped entirely. If your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor refuses 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 St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like 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 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. You may also be required to meet additional requirements as a condition of your probation, 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. Charles County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Charles County, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have never been arrested for a crime, our St. Charles County-based defense attorneys can help you through our excellent traffic law 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 St. Charles County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your St. Charles County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.

Many St. Charles County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Charles County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop 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 rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier St. Charles County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in St. Charles County, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your St. Charles County traffic ticket.

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

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

Hire Your St. Charles County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Selecting the right St. Charles County, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time incarcerated. Unlike other St. Charles 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 have round-the-clock access to the St. Charles County criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter the circumstances, the place, or the hour, you can discuss with us your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you are facing criminal charges in St. Charles County, from a small moving violation for failing to properly signal 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 invite you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the driven St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.