Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer in Platte Woods, MO. Don’t underestimate the impact of misdemeanor charges. If found guilty, you could go to jail, possibly for months. You can’t just roll over and let these allegations win – You need to fight them. That all starts by working with a top Platte Woods, MO misdemeanor defense lawyer.
Combs Waterkotte is Missouri’s top criminal defense law firm and has handled thousands of cases, many just like yours. When you work with one of our misdemeanor defense attorneys, we won’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
You deserve high-quality legal services, no matter what charge you’re facing. To get help navigating this situation, call us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a no-strings attached case review.
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The Importance of Working With an Experienced Platte Woods, MO, Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer
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 still need to take charges seriously. 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
- A criminal record that’s available to the public
- In some cases, a loss of your second amendment rights
But when you work with an experienced local defense attorney, you get:
- A collaborative defense process that is rooted in your side of the story
- Local connections that help you secure favorable plea deals
- Significantly improved odds for a positive outcome
- Expert advice on how to interact with the authorities
- Realistic projects on your case, and possible outcomes
Your freedom matters. Maintaining your reputation matters. And the misdemeanor defense attorney you choose matters. At Combs Waterkotte, want to deliver you the best outcome possible for your case, and we are ready to help you, day or night.
What You Need to Know About Felonies vs Misdemeanors in Platte Woods, 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. While there isn’t technically a limit on how long a “felony” sentence can be, in Missouri, the maximum is either thirty years or a life sentence.
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.
Can Misdemeanors Become Felonies?
Some alleged actions are normally misdemeanors, but not always. In the wrong circumstances, they could be classified as felonies instead. This depends in part on prosecutorial discretion, but also depends on the surrounding context.
A good example of the misdemeanor vs. felony divide in Missouri is theft offenses. Missouri defines felony theft as the unlawful taking of $750 (or more) worth of value, and misdemeanor as anything below that. However, there are exceptions: For example, taking public utility materials, like gas pipes, is always considered a felony, regardless of the value.
If you’re in a situation like this, you don’t just need a Platte Woods, MO, misdemeanor defense lawyer. You need someone with experience as a felony charge lawyer who will fight for the lesser charge level.
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Misdemeanor Charge Classes Our Defense Lawyers Fight
The four different classifications of misdemeanors in Missouri are A, B, C, and D. Whichever one you’re facing, a Platte Woods, MO, misdemeanor defense attorney from Combs Waterkotte can help you face it. Below, you can read about the different categories and common examples of each in Platte Woods:
Class A Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class A misdemeanors are the worst ones to be convicted of in Platte Woods, with up to 1 year in jail and/or up to $2,000 in fines.
Examples: Invasion of privacy, selling fireworks without a permit, and resisting arrest.
Class B Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class B misdemeanors are not as serious as class A misdemeanors, but the penalties can still be life-altering. A conviction could mean up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000 in fines.
Examples: Speeding in excess of 20mph, owning a defaced firearm, and violating state wildlife statutes.
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: Driving on the highway with unsecured cargo, unlawfully keeping a child from attending school, and littering.
Class D Misdemeanors
Penalties: Class D misdemeanors still can impact your life, but normally the least of any misdemeanor class. 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.
Regardless of what class your charge is, it’s important to work with an expert Platte Woods, MO, misdemeanor defense lawyer to protect your rights and future. Without one, it’s easy to make a mistake and find yourself in an even worse situation.
Steps to Pick a Platte Woods, MO, Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer
There’s good news about picking a misdemeanor defense lawyer to work with in Platte Woods, MO: The process isn’t overly complicated. But it is important to get it right. The right attorney can help you find defenses you wouldn’t have thought of. The wrong one won’t give your case the attention it deserves.
If you use the below steps to assess potential lawyers, you’ll have a good idea of who to work with:
- Start talking to Platte Woods, MO attorneys right away – Many will offer free case reviews.
- Ask what their history is with your charges – Someone who’s fought these cases before will have a better idea of effective defenses.
- Ask about potential defense strategies – Your attorney should have some initial thoughts on how to best defend your case.
- Ask about their knowledge of the prosecutor – Many plea deals depend on connections with the state.
- Ask about fees/pricing transparency – Your misdemeanor defense lawyer shouldn’t see you as a paycheck; they should explain how the expenses will work in a clear, understandable way.
- Research the attorney’s reputation – Research online for reviews and past victories.
When you ask the right questions and conduct research, you’ll be much more likely to find the right criminal defense attorney.
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How a Platte Woods, MO, Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer Can Help You Expunge Your Record
Felonies aren’t the only convictions with long-term life impacts. Here’s how a criminal record with a misdemeanor can impact your life:
- Employment consequences, such as automatic suspensions from public jobs
- Financial costs from fines, court fees, and more expenses
- Damage to your reputation
- An additional hurdle to overcome in a custody fight
- Citizenship eligibility hurdles for immigrants
What’s worse, in Platte Woods, MO, there is no expiration date for the majority of misdemeanors. That said, for most misdemeanor convictions, you do have an option to clear your record: Expungement.
If you can get your misdemeanor conviction expunged, it will prevent future employers, landlords, and more from being able to see it. This is invaluable in moving forward and avoiding the collateral consequences mentioned above. To be eligible, the follow needs to apply:
- The conviction in question is eligible for expungement.
- You are not exceeding Missouri’s limit of three misdemeanor expungements in your lifetime.
- At least one year has passed since completing the sentence, and you have not had any further convictions in that time period.
- Everything related to your original case is settled.
- There are no current criminal charges against you.
Your misdemeanor defense lawyer should do more than just fight the charges in Platte Woods, MO, court. They shouldn’t give up once the plea is in or the trial is over. With the help of an attorney, a conviction doesn’t have to be the end of your story.
Our Misdemeanor Defense Lawyers Are Ready to Fight For You in Platte Woods, MO
Combs Waterkotte takes Platte Woods, MO, criminal defense seriously, from class D misdemeanors all the way up to class A felonies. By choosing our misdemeanor defense lawyers, you are setting yourself up for a positive outcome.
We’re here to help good people in bad situations, and are ready to fight for your rights. Call today at (314) 900-HELP or let us know how we can help online.
