Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer in Lake Lotawana, MO. A misdemeanor conviction can change your life. You could go to jail, lose your job, and face numerous other consequences if you’re convicted. You need to put together an effective defense. But you don’t have to do it alone. You have Lake Lotawana, MO’s leading misdemeanor defense lawyer on your side.
Combs Waterkotte’s team of experienced criminal defense lawyers is here to serve you. We have handled over 15,000 cases, and are ready to begin working on yours today. When you work with one of our misdemeanor defense attorneys, we won’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
Don’t settle for a subpar defense just because your case is a misdemeanor. To start building your defense, call us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential case review.
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
What a Leading Lake Lotawana, MO, Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer Can Do for You
If you’re being accused of a misdemeanor, your first reaction might be “Thank goodness it’s not a felony.” While this is true, you need to be careful about underestimating the charges. Working with a defense attorney is taking a practical step to protect yourself.
If you don’t have a misdemeanor defense lawyer, you’re facing:
- The police, witnesses, and a prosecutor who want to see you behind bars
- The loss of your freedom
- Fines and court fees that quickly add up
- A criminal record that will show up on job and housing applications
- Depending on the allegation, a loss of your second amendment rights
But when you work with a leading local defense attorney, you get:
- Expert insights into your defense
- Leverage for plea deals through court and prosecutor relationships
- Greatly increased chances of a positive outcome
- Guidance on how to handle police interviews
- Open, honest insights on the best way forward for your situation
Your liberty matters. Keeping your record clean matters. And the misdemeanor defense attorney you choose matters. At Combs Waterkotte, we are dedicated to helping good people in bad situations, and we won’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
What You Need to Know About Felonies vs Misdemeanors in Lake Lotawana, MO
While individual laws can be very different, the difference between misdemeanors and felonies as categories is easier to understand: a misdemeanor has a maximum punishment of less than a year in jail, while a felony can carry penalties of more than one year.
Missouri has different classifications of misdemeanors and felonies to create broad categories of potential criminal punishments. These use letters, with class A being the most serious of either. Depending on the circumstances of your case, a skilled defense attorney may be able to negotiate your felony accusations to be reduced to a misdemeanor. To learn more, read the below section on different misdemeanor classes, their punishments, and examples.
Misdemeanors, Felonies, and Escalations
Some alleged actions are normally misdemeanors, but not always. In the wrong circumstances, they could be classified as felonies instead. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or a felony charge is determined by a combination of prosecutorial discretion and the overall circumstances.
A good example of an alleged crime that could be either a misdemeanor or a felony in Lake Lotawana, MO, is a DWI. In Missouri, a first-offense DWI is normally considered a misdemeanor. However, for a third alleged offense or further, DWI charges become felonies.
If you’re in a situation like this, you don’t just need a Lake Lotawana, MO, misdemeanor defense lawyer. You need someone with experience as a felony charge lawyer who will fight for the lesser charge level.
Legal Videos
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
Everything You Need to Know About Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
Everything You Need to Know About Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs answers the most commonly asked questions about Criminal Defense Cases in …
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
Everything You Need to Know About Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
Everything You Need to Know About Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs answers the most commonly asked questions about Criminal Defense Cases in …
Lake Lotawana, MO Misdeameanor Classes Our Lawyers Defend
The four different classifications of misdemeanors in Missouri are A, B, C, and D. Your Lake Lotawana, MO, misdemeanor defense lawyer from Combs Waterkotte can help you fight any of them. Below, you can read about the different categories and common examples of each in Lake Lotawana:
Class A Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class A misdemeanors are the worst ones to be convicted of in Lake Lotawana, with up to 1 year in jail and/or up to $2,000 in fines.
Examples: Vandalizing a cemetary, lesser assault charges, and resisting arrest.
Class B Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class B misdemeanors don’t have as high of penalties as class A, but they still need to be taken seriously. A conviction could mean up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000 in fines.
Examples: Speeding more than 20 mph over the limit, owning a defaced firearm, and many forms of trespassing.
Class C Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class C misdemeanors offer the least amount of jail time, with a maximum of 15 days, but still can face steep fines of up to $750.
Examples: lying in an affidavit, unlawfully keeping a child from attending school, and littering.
Class D Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class D misdemeanors are the least serious in terms of punishment. They can carry a fine of up to $500, but no jail time.
Examples: Thefts of property under $150 in value, minor in possession of alcohol, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
An experienced Lake Lotawana, MO, misdemeanor defense attorney can give you new options to fight your case. Without one, you could miss out on potential plea deals or plead guilty without understanding the consequences.
How to Choose a Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer in Lake Lotawana
There’s good news about picking a misdemeanor defense lawyer to work with in Lake Lotawana, MO: The process isn’t overly complicated. But that doesn’t mean you can take it lightly. An expert defense attorney can make the difference between a plea deal and months in jail.
Follow these steps to determine what attorney is right for you:
- Reach out to Lake Lotawana, MO attorneys immediately – Don’t wait while the prosecution gets a head start.
- Ask about experience with these types of cases – You want to work with someone who knows how to handle your charges.
- Ask about potential defense strategies – While defense strategies can change over time, you want your lawyer to start with a plan.
- Ask about their relationship with the district attorney – These can come in handy for securing plea deals.
- Ask about how payments will work – Your misdemeanor defense lawyer should be transparent when discussing fees, not evasive.
- Research the attorney’s reputation – Search online for reviews and accolades.
When you ask the right questions and conduct research, you’ll be much more likely to find the right criminal defense attorney.
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 and Illinois, created this guide to help you find the right attorney. Learn what to look for, key questions to ask, and red flags to avoid.
How a Lake Lotawana, MO, Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer Can Help You Expunge Your Record
A criminal conviction can have serious long-term impacts, even just for a misdemeanor:
- Career consequences, such as automatic suspensions from public jobs
- Strained familial relationships from separation and stress
- Losing your driving privileges in DWI cases
- Lower your chance of winning custody battles
- Citizenship eligibility hurdles for immigrants
If you were hoping that a misdemeanor conviction in Lake Lotawana will go away after a few years, think again: Missouri does not automatically clear your record of misdemeanors after enough time has passed (with the potential exception of some marijuana-related offenses. However, through expungement, you do have a path forward to clear your name.
If you can get your misdemeanor conviction expunged, it will prevent future employers, landlords, and more from being able to see it. By expunging your misdemeanor records, you are taking a major step towards getting your life bac. To be eligible, you need to fit the following criteria:
- Expungement is allowed for the specific crime you were convicted of.
- You are not exceeding Missouri’s limit of three misdemeanor expungements in your lifetime.
- You’ve obeyed the law and not committed any crimes in the past year since the sentence.
- There are no outstanding fees, fines, or other payments for your case.
- You don’t have any other criminal charges pending.
When you work with the right Lake Lotawana, MO misdemeanor defense lawyer, they’ll stay by your side even if you are convicted. After a case, your attorney can help you decide on the best course to move your life forward. Expungement can seem complicated on your own, but with the right attorney, it can turn your life around.
Fight Your Charges With Lake Lotawana, MO’s Leading Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer
Combs Waterkotte takes Lake Lotawana, MO, criminal defense seriously, from class D misdemeanors all the way up to class A felonies. When you work with us, you’re getting an expert misdemeanor defense lawyer who is dedicated to finding you the best outcome possible.
Together, we can find the way forward. Call today at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online.
