Felony defense lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO. When you’re charged with a felony in the Excelsior Estates, MO area, your life can change instantly. Your freedom, your job, your relationships, and your long-term future can all be put at risk. Prosecutors move quickly, and even one wrong move early on can make your situation far more difficult.
If you’re facing a felony charge in the Excelsior Estates, MO area, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to dismantle the prosecution’s case, protect your rights, and fight tenaciously for your future. That’s where the experience of a Combs Waterkotte Excelsior Estates, MO felony defense lawyer comes in.
Call us immediately at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential case review with one of our expert defense attorneys in Excelsior Estates, MO. The Combs Waterkotte felony defense legal team has over 60 years of combined experience and has successfully handled 10,000+ cases just like yours in Excelsior Estates and across Missouri.
Legal Videos
Article Summary
This article explains why hiring an experienced felony defense lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO is crucial when facing serious criminal charges. It highlights the severe consequences of a felony conviction, the types of cases commonly defended in Excelsior Estates, MO, and the importance of securing legal representation quickly. The summary also covers core defense strategies we use at Combs Waterkotte, such as challenging illegal searches, attacking inadequate evidence, and negotiating from a position of strength, and emphasizes why choosing an aggressive, knowledgeable felony defense lawyer can make the difference between prison time and protecting your future.
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
400+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 60 Years
-
Protect Your Life
![Image]()
Protect Your Life
A felony can have long-term consequences. Act quickly and carefully to protect your future and your livelihood.
Reach Out Now
-
Know Your Next Steps
![Image]()
Know Your Next Steps
Wondering what happens after your felony arrest? The skilled Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.
Stay Informed
-
Title
![Image]()
Ready to Talk to an Expert?
Contact the experienced Combs Waterkotte felony lawyers now at (314) 900-HELP to get started on your defense.
Get Started
How Serious Felony Charges Are in Excelsior Estates, MO
In Missouri, there’s a major difference between misdemeanors and felonies—and felony charges come with far higher stakes. Prosecutors in Excelsior Estates, MO treat these cases as top priority, especially when they involve violence, weapons, drugs, or significant financial harm.
If you’re convicted of a felony in Excelsior Estates, MO, you may face:
- Years, even decades, in prison
- Substantial fines
- Felony criminal record that follows you for life
- Loss of gun rights
- Loss of voting rights
- Major challenges securing housing or employment
- Supervised probation with strict conditions
- Potential ICE or immigration action for noncitizens
This is not the moment to “see how things play out.” This is the moment to bring in a proven Excelsior Estates, MO felony defense lawyer who knows how to push back, protect your rights, and fight for your future.
Missouri Felony Classes and Their Penalties Explained
Missouri categorizes felony charges into five levels—Classes A through E—with Class A carrying the harshest consequences. Each class has its own sentencing range, potential fines, and long-term impact on your future. Knowing the level of your charge helps you understand what’s at risk and why you need an experienced felony defense lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO fighting for you.
Class A Felony in Excelsior Estates, MO
A Class A felony conviction carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and can extend to 30 years—or even life.
Class A felonies are the most severe non-death-penalty offenses in Missouri. These charges typically involve allegations of extreme violence, serious harm, or conduct that the State considers a significant threat to public safety. Because Class A felonies often carry decades behind bars, with limited opportunities for probation, early, aggressive defense is critical.
Common examples in Excelsior Estates and throughout Missouri include:
- First-degree murder (Missouri Revised Statute § 565.020)
- Forcible rape of a child under 12 (RSMo. § 566.030)
- First-degree robbery (RSMo. § 570.023)
- First-degree kidnapping (RSMo. § 565.110)
- High-level drug trafficking offenses (RSMo. § 579.065)
Class B Felony in Excelsior Estates, MO
A Class B felony in Missouri comes with a prison range of 5 to 15 years if convicted.
Class B felonies in Excelsior Estates, MO are still considered extremely serious offenses and often stem from violent incidents, weapon-related conduct, home invasions, or emotionally charged situations. Even though the penalties are lower than Class A, prosecutors pursue these charges aggressively, and many convictions result in mandatory prison time.
Some examples include:
- First-degree burglary (RSMo. § 569.160)
- Voluntary manslaughter (RSMo. § 565.023)
- Certain armed criminal action charges (RSMo. § 571.015)
- Some high-level drug distribution cases (RSMo. § 579.020)
Class C Felony in Excelsior Estates, MO
A Class C felony conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and/or fines reaching $10,000.
Class C felonies cover a wide range of conduct, from lower-level violence to financial or sex-related offenses. Judges have more flexibility with these cases, and many defendants may be eligible for probation depending on their record and the facts. Strong negotiation and early intervention can greatly affect outcomes for Class C charges.
Common examples in Excelsior Estates and throughout Missouri include:
- Involuntary manslaughter (RSMo. § 565.024)
- Theft (stealing over $750) (RSMo. § 570.030)
- Second-degree statutory rape (RSMo. § 566.034)
- Drug distribution or possession (felony-level amounts or prior offenses)
Class D Felony in Excelsior Estates, MO
A Class D felony conviction can result in up to 7 years in prison and/or fines reaching $10,000.
Class D felony charges often involve nonviolent conduct—such as drug possession, property damage, or domestic issues that escalated suddenly. Many of these cases give your defense lawyer room to negotiate for reductions, probation, or alternative outcomes. In Excelsior Estates, MO, it’s common for Class D felonies to arise from momentary lapses in judgment or emotionally charged disputes.
Examples include:
- Third-degree domestic assault (RSMo. § 565.074)
- Fraud and financial crimes (RSMo. Chapter 570)
- Passing bad checks (RSMo. § 570.120)
- Resisting arrest (RSMo. § 575.150)
Class E Felony in Excelsior Estates, MO
A Class E felony can bring up to 4 years in prison and fines as high as $10,000.
Class E felonies are the least severe felony category in Excelsior Estates, MO, but they are still felonies. A conviction in this class can permanently affect employment, licensing, firearm rights, and future background checks. These charges often stem from conduct the State considers negligent or risky, even without intent to harm.
Examples in Excelsior Estates, MO include:
- Criminal negligence (RSMo. § 562.016)
- Certain driving-related crimes, such as DWI (RSMo. § 577.010), Leaving the Scene of an Accident (RSMo. § 577.060), Driving While Revoked (RSMo. § 302.321)
- Various lower-level drug or property offenses, depending on the specific facts
If you’re up against any felony charge in Excelsior Estates, MO, you need a seasoned felony defense attorney who knows how to handle high-pressure cases and craft winning defense strategies. Contact Combs Waterkotte right now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online.
Why Acting Fast Matters When You’re Facing a Felony in Excelsior Estates, MO
Excelsior Estates, MO felony cases move fast—often faster than people expect. Police start collecting evidence. Prosecutors work to lock in witness statements. And every day you wait, your defense gets harder. You need an advocate now, not later.
When you hire a felony defense lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO from Combs Waterkotte, we can:
- Stop law enforcement from violating your rights
- Shape the narrative long before charges are finalized
- Stop you from accidentally incriminating yourself
- Secure, preserve, and examine key evidence
- Challenge illegal searches, traffic stops, or arrests
- Push for lower bond and fair release terms
- Expose weaknesses in witness claims or police reports
Facing Excelsior Estates, MO felony charges? When you select a Combs Waterkotte Excelsior Estates, MO felony defense lawyer, you’re not simply selecting a leading felony defense lawyer in and around Excelsior Estates, MO – you are securing your rights, your freedom, and your future. In addition to an esteemed felony defense lawyer, our staff is available 24/7 and offers expertise in the following areas for residents in Excelsior Estates and beyond:
High-Impact Defense Tactics Our Felony Attorneys Use in Excelsior Estates, MO
Felony accusations in Excelsior Estates, MO require a defense that is sharp, tailored, and backed by real experience. At Combs Waterkotte, we don’t use cookie-cutter strategies—we build a custom plan around the facts of your case and the weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence:
1. Attacking the Elements of the Crime
The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. If even one element fails, you win.
2. Fourth Amendment Challenges
We look closely at how officers handled the stop, arrest, and search. If they crossed legal boundaries, we expose it. Any unconstitutional search may lead to the evidence being thrown out—and once evidence disappears, charges often do too.
3. Exposing Weak or Nonexistent Intent
Many felonies in Excelsior Estates, MO hinge on proving intent. We dismantle assumptions and show the real context behind the allegation.
4. Challenging Evidence That Doesn’t Hold Up
Our team leverages extensive resources and trusted expert networks in Excelsior Estates and throughout Missouri to break down the prosecution’s case. We pinpoint every weakness, including:
- Faulty or incomplete forensic analysis
- Missing chain-of-custody records
- Unreliable or mistaken eyewitnesses
- Contradictory or sloppy police documentation
- Statements obtained through pressure or coercion
5. Negotiating From Strength, Not Fear
Prosecutors take our Excelsior Estates, MO felony defense lawyers seriously because they know we prepare for trial from Day One.
This trial-focused approach often leads to:
- Cases being dismissed
- Charges being reduced
- Probation or alternative outcomes
- Treatment or rehabilitation options
- Deferred or delayed prosecution
Why Work With a Combs Waterkotte Felony Defense Lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO?
Choosing the right felony defense lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO can change the entire outcome of your case. You’re not just looking for someone to stand beside you in court—you need an advocate who understands what’s at stake and fights like your future depends on it.
Our defense team is:
- Committed to YOU, not the system
- Familiar with local Excelsior Estates, MO courts and prosecutors
- Proactive, tactical, and relentless in our approach
- Trained to manage high-pressure, high-stakes felony cases
- Driven by results and client success
Get Immediate Help From a Combs Waterkotte Felony Defense Lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO
Felony charges in Excelsior Estates, MO are life-altering. Whether the accusation involves violence, weapons, drugs, or a lower-level offense, you’re facing consequences that could follow you forever. You shouldn’t face that kind of pressure alone.
At Combs Waterkotte, we move fast to protect your rights, secure critical evidence, and build a defense that puts you back in control. Our team fights hard because your life, your freedom, and your future matter. Call (314) 900-HELP now or send us a message to speak with an experienced Excelsior Estates, MO felony defense lawyer right away. Help starts the moment you contact us.
