A criminal defense lawyer in Glen Carbon, IL is a legal advocate who defends individuals facing criminal charges in state courts, ensuring their rights are protected at every stage of the legal process.
If you’ve been arrested, charged with a crime, or are under investigation in Glen Carbon, IL, you need a legal team that knows the courts and knows how to fight back. Combs Waterkotte‘s Glen Carbon, IL criminal defense lawyers deliver focused, trial-ready, and personalized defense strategies for clients in Glen Carbon and across Southern Illinois.
Whether you’re dealing with a DUI, drug offense, or felony charge, our attorneys are ready to defend your rights and guide you through the legal process.
What You’ll Learn on This Page
- Why working with a criminal defense lawyer in Glen Carbon, IL gives you an advantage in the local legal system
- The charges we most frequently defend: DUI, drug offenses, assault, and other serious crimes
- How we defend our clients using rapid response, fact-finding, and strong trial strategies
- What happens after an arrest in Glen Carbon, IL, and what steps to expect in the legal process
- How to choose the right attorney for your situation, and what makes our team different
- What to do right now if you’re facing criminal accusations — and how to protect yourself
Free book
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Protect Your Rights and Future
Combs Waterkotte has over 50 years of experience and over 10,000 cases handled. This ebook helps guide you through the criminal defense process and how an experienced, skilled defense attorney can keep your freedoms intact.
Why Hire a Local Glen Carbon, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Local knowledge can make or break your case — and a Glen Carbon, IL criminal defense lawyer who understands the system gives you an edge. Southern Illinois courts each have their own prosecutors and personalities, and understanding how to navigate them effectively takes real courtroom experience.
Here’s why choosing a truly local criminal defense attorney makes a difference:
- We know the players. Every courthouse operates differently. We understand how individual judges approach cases and what local prosecutors consider during plea negotiations.
- We know the process. Local knowledge of pretrial alternatives, paperwork, and timelines helps us streamline your defense.
- We’re close by. We’re physically close — which means faster action when something urgent happens.
- We have a reputation. Combs Waterkotte is known and respected throughout Southern Illinois for strong advocacy, thorough preparation, and real results.
Choosing a local attorney means choosing someone who understands your environment, your charges, and your path forward.
What Criminal Charges Do We Defend in Glen Carbon, IL?
No two criminal cases are exactly alike, but every person is entitled to a fair trial and a strong defense. Combs Waterkotte’s Glen Carbon, IL criminal defense lawyers represent clients across Southern Illinois facing charges ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies.
Some of the most common criminal charges we handle include:
- DUI: We defend clients against both first-time and repeat DUI charges, challenging test results and working to preserve your driving privileges.
- Drug Possession and Trafficking: We handle everything from first-time drug possession to complex trafficking cases — always aiming to protect your freedom and future.
- Assault and Battery: We defend clients charged with everything from minor scuffles to aggravated assault, often building cases around self-defense or witness credibility.
- Domestic Battery: These are some of the most sensitive charges we handle — and we approach them with care, strategy, and an eye on long-term consequences.
- Theft and Burglary: We fight theft and burglary charges by scrutinizing police reports, witness statements, and the strength of the evidence.
- Weapons Charges: Gun and weapon offenses often carry mandatory time and steep consequences — we fight to reduce or dismiss those charges.
- White Collar Crimes: Accusations of fraud, embezzlement, or financial misconduct can harm your reputation and livelihood — we respond with discretion and force.
- Sex Offenses: We defend clients accused of sex crimes with urgency, discretion, and full awareness of what’s at stake.
- Juvenile Defense: We work to keep young clients out of the adult system and focused on rehabilitation, not punishment.
- Probation Violations: We challenge technical violations and advocate for solutions that don’t involve incarceration.
While it may feel like the world is against you, facing a criminal charge doesn’t automatically make you guilty — and you don’t have to face it alone. Our job is to help you regain control — by clarifying your options, protecting your rights, and preparing you for what comes next.
How Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Defend Charges in Glen Carbon, IL
A strong defense doesn’t begin in the courtroom — it begins the moment you hire us. Our Glen Carbon, IL criminal defense lawyers take a proactive, strategic approach to every case, using our experience and insight to put you in the best possible position from the start.
What does a strong defense look like? Here’s what we focus on:
- Early Intervention: We act fast — often before formal charges are filed — to protect your rights and start shaping the case from the very beginning.
- Independent Investigation: Our team conducts its own investigation — reviewing police reports, questioning witnesses, and uncovering evidence that works in your favor.
- Pretrial Motions: We challenge unlawful searches, faulty warrants, and other procedural violations that could invalidate the case.
- Tactical Negotiation: If a plea deal is in your best interest, we aim for the best possible terms by showing the prosecution we’re ready to fight.
- Trial-Ready Representation: We don’t just show up to court — we arrive ready to win, with every detail accounted for.
- Client-Centered Advocacy: We prioritize transparency and access. You can reach us any time, and we work to keep your case focused on what matters most: your future.
With Combs Waterkotte on your side in Glen Carbon, IL, you’ll have a plan, a clear line of communication, and a defense that puts you first.
What Happens After an Arrest in Glen Carbon, IL?
An arrest can be frightening and disorienting, particularly for first-time offenders who aren’t sure what comes next. Understanding what happens after the arrest can help you regain a sense of control and reduce the risk of making mistakes.
Let’s walk through the common stages that follow an arrest in Glen Carbon, IL:
- Booking: After your arrest, you’ll be taken to the local jail for processing. You’ll be fingerprinted, photographed, and formally charged as part of the booking process.
- Bond Hearing: Within a day or two, you’ll appear before a judge who will determine whether you can be released and under what conditions. We advocate aggressively for your release or for the lowest possible bond.
- Arraignment: This is your first formal court appearance. The judge will read the charges against you, and you’ll enter a plea. We ensure you’re prepared, protected, and understand every step of the process.
- Discovery and Pretrial Motions: This is where we begin building your defense. We request all the prosecution’s evidence, challenge weak or illegally obtained evidence, and file motions to suppress or dismiss.
- Plea or Trial: We weigh the facts, evaluate your goals, and determine whether a plea deal or trial is the right path. Either way, you’ll have a clear strategy and confident representation.
When should you hire a lawyer?
Immediately. Getting us involved early allows us to protect your rights during police interactions and guide the case before it gains steam.
Can charges be dropped before trial?
In many situations, yes. Charges are often dropped or reduced because of procedural errors, weak evidence, or strong legal arguments before trial. We review every detail to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
How to Choose the Right Glen Carbon, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer
The lawyer you choose can make a massive difference in how your case plays out — and how your life looks afterward. So how do you decide which attorney is best for you?
What should you prioritize when selecting a criminal lawyer in Glen Carbon, IL?
- Local Experience: A lawyer who knows the local judges, prosecutors, and court procedures can spot opportunities — and avoid pitfalls — that outsiders might miss.
- Track Record of Results: Results matter — look for a defense lawyer who can show a track record of meaningful wins.
- Responsive Communication: You should never be left in the dark about your own case. A good lawyer explains things clearly, answers questions quickly, and keeps you updated every step of the way.
- Trial Readiness: Even if a plea is possible, your attorney should be prepared to argue your case before a judge or jury.
- Client-Focused Approach: You need an attorney who treats you like a person, not a docket number.
Our Glen Carbon, IL criminal defense attorneys combine courtroom experience with a life-long passion for defending the rights of the accused. Let us help you take control of your case and face the road ahead with strength and clarity.
Free book
How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Charged with a crime? The lawyer you hire matters. Combs Waterkotte, recognized for top-tier criminal defense in Missouri, created this guide to help you find the right attorney. Learn what to look for, key questions to ask, and red flags to avoid.
Talk to a Glen Carbon, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you’re facing criminal charges — or even just being investigated — the decisions you make right now could shape the rest of your life. You need a criminal defense lawyer in Glen Carbon, IL who knows the local courts, understands the stakes, and is ready to fight for you from the very first conversation.
Contact Combs Waterkotte online or call (314) 900-HELP today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and begin building a strategy designed to protect your freedom and your future.
