A criminal defense lawyer in Nashville, 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 Nashville, IL, you need a legal team that knows the courts and knows how to fight back. Combs Waterkotte‘s Nashville, IL criminal defense lawyers offer experienced, strategic, and client-focused representation for clients in Nashville 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
- The role of a criminal defense lawyer in Nashville, IL, and how local insight makes a difference
- An overview of the most common charges we defend — from DUI to drug crimes and assault
- How our defense strategy starts with fast action, deep investigation, and courtroom preparation
- What the criminal process looks like after an arrest — from booking through trial or plea deals
- 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 Nashville, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer?
In criminal cases, local experience matters. A defense lawyer who knows Nashville, IL courts inside and out can help you avoid costly mistakes. Southern Illinois courts each have their own prosecutors and personalities, and understanding how to navigate them effectively takes real courtroom experience.
These are just a few reasons a local criminal defense attorney is the right choice:
- We know the players. Each judge and prosecutor brings their own style and expectations. We understand how individual judges approach cases and what local prosecutors consider during plea negotiations.
- We know the process. Our familiarity with programs, policies, and procedures helps us keep your case moving efficiently.
- 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.
With a local defense lawyer, you’re not just hiring legal skill — you’re getting someone who knows how to navigate your courthouse.
What Criminal Charges Do We Defend in Nashville, IL?
Criminal cases vary, but the Constitution guarantees your right to a fair trial and legal representation. Combs Waterkotte’s Nashville, IL criminal defense lawyers handle a wide range of state criminal cases throughout Southern Illinois, from minor offenses to major felony charges.
Some of the most common criminal charges we handle include:
- DUI: Our goal in every DUI case is to minimize the damage — including fighting the evidence and protecting your license from suspension.
- Drug Possession and Trafficking: Whether you’re facing simple possession or felony trafficking, we challenge illegal searches and push for reduced penalties or dismissal.
- Assault and Battery: Whether the charge involves a fight, a dispute, or a serious injury, we investigate thoroughly to uncover self-defense arguments or flaws in the state’s case.
- Domestic Battery: Domestic cases often involve conflicting stories and intense emotions. We focus on protecting your rights and your reputation.
- Theft and Burglary: From minor theft to major burglary, our defense focuses on protecting your record and challenging every aspect of the case.
- Weapons Charges: Southern Illinois courts take gun and weapons violations seriously, and we respond with equally serious defense strategies.
- White Collar Crimes: When you’re facing allegations like financial theft or fraud, we act fast to contain the damage and build a detailed, strategic defense.
- Sex Offenses: Sex crime allegations are serious — we respond with a focused defense, aiming to protect your record, rights, and reputation.
- 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.
Being charged with a crime doesn’t mean you’re guilty, and it doesn’t mean you have to navigate this alone. We’ll help you make sense of what’s happening, fight back with a real defense, and start working toward a better outcome.
How Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Defend Charges in Nashville, IL
A strong defense doesn’t begin in the courtroom — it begins the moment you hire us. Our Nashville, IL criminal defense lawyers immediately begin working with you to analyze your case, protect your rights, and build the strongest defense possible.
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: We verify and challenge the facts. That means reviewing every piece of evidence and tracking down what the state might have missed.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, we’re able to get key evidence thrown out — or the entire case dismissed — by holding the prosecution accountable to proper procedures.
- Tactical Negotiation: Our ability to negotiate comes from being fully prepared to win in court — and prosecutors know it.
- Trial-Ready Representation: When trial is the right path, we come prepared with a clear strategy, compelling evidence, and a focused courtroom presence.
- 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.
You’ll never be left wondering what’s happening with your case. Our Nashville, IL team keeps you informed, prepared, and confident from start to finish.
What Happens After an Arrest in Nashville, IL?
If you’ve never been arrested before, the experience can feel overwhelming and confusing. Understanding what happens after the arrest can help you regain a sense of control and reduce the risk of making mistakes.
These are the steps you can expect after getting arrested in Nashville, IL:
- Booking: Once you’re arrested, you’re transported to the local jail for official booking procedures. This includes fingerprinting, photos, and official documentation of the charges.
- Bond Hearing: Shortly after arrest, you’ll attend a bond hearing where a judge decides your release terms. We advocate aggressively for your release or for the lowest possible bond.
- Arraignment: Your arraignment marks the beginning of the court process. The judge will read the charges against you, and you’ll enter a plea. Our job is to make sure you’re informed, supported, and legally protected at this stage.
- 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: Depending on the strength of the evidence and your goals, we may negotiate for a favorable plea deal or proceed to trial. Whatever direction your case takes, we provide strong guidance and skilled advocacy.
When should you hire a lawyer?
Right away. The earlier we’re involved, the more we can do to help, from protecting your rights during police questioning to influencing the direction of the case before it gains momentum.
Can charges be dropped before trial?
Yes. In many cases, charges can be dismissed or reduced through effective pretrial motions, lack of evidence, or successful negotiation. We look for legal and factual weaknesses the prosecution may not expect us to challenge.
How to Choose the Right Nashville, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer
Your choice of defense lawyer can impact not just your case, but your future. But with so many attorneys out there, how do you know who’s the right fit?
What should you prioritize when selecting a criminal lawyer in Nashville, IL?
- Local Experience: Knowing the personalities and patterns of the local courts gives your defense a real edge.
- Track Record of Results: A strong history of favorable outcomes is one of the clearest signs you’re in good hands.
- Responsive Communication: Look for someone who listens, explains your options plainly, and stays in touch as your case moves forward.
- Trial Readiness: Your lawyer should be ready and willing to take your case to trial if necessary — and not pressure you into settling just to avoid litigation.
- Client-Focused Approach: You need an attorney who treats you like a person, not a docket number.
At Combs Waterkotte, we bring together legal skill and genuine dedication to protecting the people we represent. 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 Nashville, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Whether you’ve been charged or are simply under investigation, what you do next matters. You need a criminal defense lawyer in Nashville, 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. Let us hear your side, walk you through your legal options, and start planning a defense that puts you in the strongest possible position.
