Class B Felony Lawyer in Kansas City, MO
Don’t let your Kansas City Class B felony case get out of hand. Reach out to Combs Waterkotte online or call us immediately at (314) 900-HELP to build your defense.
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Class B Felony Lawyer in Kansas City, MO
A Class B felony is one of the most serious criminal charges you can face in the state of Missouri. A conviction can mean five to 15 years in prison and, depending on the offense and your record, you may also face registration requirements or limits as to when you can be released. If you’re facing Class B felony charges in Kansas City, MO, you need an attorney immediately.
Combs Waterkotte’s Kansas City criminal defense lawyers are ready to take on your case. We’ll review the evidence against you, the laws at play, and whether prosecutors can justify a Class B charge. Your defense starts with what the state can actually prove, and we’re determined to fight back. Call (314) 900-HELP to get started.
I owe my life to Combs Waterkotte. If not for them, I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars. There is no amount of words that can explain what they did for me and my family. Its the highest recommendation that I can give.
Alexander B.
Felonies
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If I could give Steve and his team 10 stars I would in a heartbeat. Was facing more then one felony charge and after these guys found the arresting officer violated my 4th Amendment Rights and those charges were dismissed. My family and I can't thank you enough.
Dean J
Felonies
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I was hands down guilty. ON VIDEO !!! In a smaller town, and a job dealing with the public, this was devastating. I made one phone call and spoke for maybe 15 minutes. I DIDN'T appear in court. I am extremely impressed. QUIETLY relieved of the matter!
Y.I.V.
Theft
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My fiance had a felony drug charge and Combs Waterkotte got it dismissed! There were no fines, court cost, nothing. Chris is loyal, professional, knowledgeable, and a man of his word. We are forever grateful for you.
Kimberly T.
Drug Crimes
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If I was found guilty, it would have been over 100 years in prison. They promised me that they would fight like hell and get me out of it. After everything was done, I just felt free. Like this wasn’t gonna end with me rotting away in a prison cell. I felt like I could start my life and have a fresh start.
Caleb
Assault 1st, Armed Criminal Action
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I was facing, probably 18 years… I actually got 5 years probation and 40 hours of community service. Without Combs Waterkotte’s help, I don’t think my family could have made it without me. It was just a written book to where it's a perfect ending.
Chris
Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action
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I went through what was supposed to be one of the top law firms in St. Louis. They said I wouldn't have no chance. I end up firing the other lawyer and everything and going with Chris. I felt like Combs Waterkotte actually did something for me and wasn't I wasn't just another number on somebody's desk.
Willy
DWI/DUI
Verify onI owe my life to Combs Waterkotte. If not for them, I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars. There is no amount of words that can explain what they did for me and my family. Its the highest recommendation that I can give.
Alexander B.
Felonies
If I could give Steve and his team 10 stars I would in a heartbeat. Was facing more then one felony charge and after these guys found the arresting officer violated my 4th Amendment Rights and those charges were dismissed. My family and I can't thank you enough.
Dean J
Felonies
I was hands down guilty. ON VIDEO !!! In a smaller town, and a job dealing with the public, this was devastating. I made one phone call and spoke for maybe 15 minutes. I DIDN'T appear in court. I am extremely impressed. QUIETLY relieved of the matter!
Y.I.V.
Theft
My fiance had a felony drug charge and Combs Waterkotte got it dismissed! There were no fines, court cost, nothing. Chris is loyal, professional, knowledgeable, and a man of his word. We are forever grateful for you.
Kimberly T.
Drug Crimes
If I was found guilty, it would have been over 100 years in prison. They promised me that they would fight like hell and get me out of it. After everything was done, I just felt free. Like this wasn’t gonna end with me rotting away in a prison cell. I felt like I could start my life and have a fresh start.
Caleb
Assault 1st, Armed Criminal Action
I was facing, probably 18 years… I actually got 5 years probation and 40 hours of community service. Without Combs Waterkotte’s help, I don’t think my family could have made it without me. It was just a written book to where it's a perfect ending.
Chris
Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action
I went through what was supposed to be one of the top law firms in St. Louis. They said I wouldn't have no chance. I end up firing the other lawyer and everything and going with Chris. I felt like Combs Waterkotte actually did something for me and wasn't I wasn't just another number on somebody's desk.
Willy
DWI/DUI
What Is a Class B Felony in Kansas City, Missouri?
Missouri groups felonies into Classes A, B, C, D, and E. Class A felonies have the harshest standard sentencing range, followed closely by Class B. While Class B felony offenses carry more serious penalties than Classes C, D, and E felonies, the classification alone doesn’t tell you everything about the charge or its consequences.
The severity of an injury, a victim’s age, the amount of drugs involved, prior convictions, or the use of a weapon may determine whether an offense is a Class B felony. Many potential offenses qualify, the most common of which are covered below.
Violent Crimes and Domestic Violence
Missouri Class B felony homicide, assault and domestic violence offenses are based on a death or intent to kill or seriously injure another. The most commonly charged of these offenses includes:
- Voluntary manslaughter: A killing under sudden passion arising from adequate cause or knowingly assisting with a suicide
- First degree assault: Attempting to kill or cause a serious physical injury (even when no serious injury actually occurs)
- First degree domestic assault: Attempting to kill or seriously injure a spouse or cohabitant (even when no serious injury actually occurs)
Sex Crimes
Age and aggravating circumstances can raise a sex offense to a Class B felony. Kansas City police, prosecutors, and courts take sex offenses very seriously, and some of the most common Class B felony charges include:
- First degree sexual abuse: Forcible sexual contact or contact with someone unable to consent when the victim is under 14 or the offense is aggravated
- First degree promoting child sexual abuse material: Promoting or possessing with intent to promote sexually explicit material depicting a child under 14
DWI Offenses
A Class B felony DWI charge is relatively rare in Missouri, but it can happen in a couple of instances. Kansas City prosecutors may charge someone with a Class B felony DWI in the following instances:
- Habitual offender DWI: For offenders convicted of a sixth or subsequent DWI
- DWI causing death: Causing another person’s death while driving intoxicated
Drug and Controlled Substance Offenses
Missouri grades drug crimes by conduct, drug type, drug weight, and sometimes prior findings. Under Missouri’s drug laws, Class B felony thresholds vary, but often include:
- First-degree drug trafficking: Knowingly distributing or delivering specified quantities of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, or other drugs
- Second-degree drug trafficking: Possessing, purchasing, or bringing into high quantities of controlled substances into Missouri
- Drug Manufacturing: Manufacturing specific controlled substances within 2,000 feet of a school
Property and Theft Crimes
Force, injury, weapons, and occupied buildings can make property crimes Class B felonies. Some of the most common examples include:
- First-degree burglary: Unlawful entry into a place to commit an offense while armed, threatening injury, or with a bystander present
- Second-degree robbery: Forcibly stealing property and causing another person physical injury
Child Abuse and Weapons Offenses
Crimes against children and weapons offenses are two categories of crimes likely to result in high-level felony charges. In Kansas City, Missouri, the offenses most commonly charged as Class B felonies are:
- Abuse or neglect of a child: Abuse or neglect involving serious physical or emotional injury, or a qualifying prior finding of guilt
- Unlawful use of weapons involving a motor vehicle: Shooting at or from a car without lawful self-defense (when no one is injured or killed)
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Missouri’s Class B Felony Statute
While certain criminal offenses are classified as Class B felonies under Missouri law, separate statutes explain how a Class B felony’s consequences are defined. Understanding the criminal statutes and the laws around Class B felonies themselves gives the full picture of the depth of the consequences of a conviction.
Classification and the Standard Sentencing Range
RSMo §557.016 divides felonies into five sentencing categories:
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C
- Class D
- Class E
The law for each offense then sets the classification based on what prosecutors must prove and any aggravating circumstances. There is no separate crime called a “Class B felony.” Rather, the state has to prove the specific offense and the facts that make it a Class B felony.
RSMo §558.011 sets the standard Class B prison term at five to 15 years. That’s the range for a regular prison sentence, but it doesn’t tell you whether probation is available or when you might qualify for parole or conditional release. Those questions, including any minimum time you must serve, depend on the offense, when it occurred, other convictions, and the full extent of your record.
Why the Exact Subsection Makes a Difference
The same offense can carry different felony classifications under different parts of a statute. A more serious injury, a larger drug quantity, a younger victim, causing a death, or repeat offender status may move a charge from Class C to Class B or A. Your lawyer should check the correct version of the law and challenge each fact used to raise the charge in order to get it reduced or dismissed.
Defense Strategies for Class B Felony Charges in Kansas City, MO
The right defense against a Kansas City, Missouri Class B felony charge depends on the charge itself and the available evidence. At Combs Waterkotte, we look at whether prosecutors can prove the offense itself and the facts that make it a Class B felony. Depending on your case, we may use any of the following defense strategies:
- Challenge identification or presence: Review witness identification procedures, video, phone and location records, and work logs to create an alibi
- Dispute the required mental state: Show why prosecutors can’t prove the purposeful, knowing, or reckless state of mind by arguing lack of intent
- Challenge the Class B classification: Question factors like an injury’s cause, victim’s age, drug weight, prior findings, weapon use, or property value to reduce felony classifications
- Argue self-defense or defense of others: Present evidence that the force used was justified under Missouri law
- Question scientific evidence: Review toxicology, medical opinions, digital forensics, lab methods, equipment calibration, contamination, and chain of custody to get evidence thrown out
- Look for constitutional violations: Determine whether police violated your Fourth Amendment rights or committed Miranda violations to get evidence suppressed
Possible Penalties for a Class B Felony in Kansas City, Missouri
A Class B felony conviction is one of the most serious criminal convictions a person can face in Kansas City, Missouri. Below, we cover some of the many potentially life-altering consequences a Class B felony conviction can bring.
Prison Terms and Enhanced Sentencing
A standard Class B felony sentence is five to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The judge considers the offense, your criminal history, the impact on the victim, reasons for leniency, any plea agreement, and other lawful factors when determining how much time you face. You may also owe restitution, court costs, or other payments the court orders for that offense.
Missouri’s extended terms for prior criminal conduct statute can increase that range. A persistent offender includes someone with two or more qualifying felonies committed at different times, or one prior dangerous felony conviction. If the court finds that you are a persistent or dangerous offender, a Class B conviction carries the Class A prison range of 10 to 30 years or life.
Probation, Parole, and Minimum Time Served
A Class B felony doesn’t automatically rule out probation. However, RSMo §557.045 and individual offense statutes limit probation, suspended sentences, parole, or conditional release in certain cases. Dangerous-felony findings, use of a deadly weapon, prior convictions, fatal DWIs, and certain offenses involving children, sex, or weapons can affect how much time you must serve.
Collateral Consequences and Expungement
Prison isn’t the only concern around a Class B felony charge. A felony can affect:
- Firearm rights
- Employment opportunities
- Housing prospects
- Professional licenses
- Immigration status
- Child custody issues
A DWI may bring driver’s license consequences, and qualifying sex offenses can require sex offender registration. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, get immigration advice before resolving any criminal charge.
Whether a Class B conviction can be expunged depends on the offense, not just its classification. RSMo §610.140 excludes many common Class B crimes, including:
- Dangerous felonies
- Offenses requiring sex-offender registration
- DWIs
- Felony assault
- Domestic assault
- Kidnapping
- Second-degree robbery
Other crimes are also excluded. An offense not on the list may qualify only in particularly severe circumstances.
Why Choose Combs Waterkotte for a Kansas City, MO Class B Felony Case?
Combs Waterkotte has handled more than 15,000 criminal cases, and our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined criminal defense experience. That experience helps us work through complex evidence, whether your case involves toxicology, accident reconstruction, medical records, or digital data.
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We take a trial-ready approach from the start. We preserve evidence, challenge unsupported charges, file motions, and prepare for negotiations or trial. You’ll get direct answers about the evidence, possible penalties, and your choices throughout your case.
How Combs Waterkotte Will Take On Your Class B Felony Charges
When you hire us, we build a defense around the details of your case. That work may include:
- Reviewing your charge and possible penalties: Check the exact subsection, applicable law, classification, possible lesser offenses, sentencing increases, and consequences beyond prison
- Preserving and gathering evidence: Obtain reports, body-camera and surveillance footage, dispatch records, digital data, medical files, lab records, and witness accounts
- Reconstructing what happened: Build a timeline and compare witness accounts with physical, medical, and digital evidence to find inconsistencies
- Filing motions and challenging evidence: Challenge searches, statements, identifications, expert methods, discovery problems, and unsupported claims used to increase the charge or sentence
- Preparing for negotiations or trial: Look for grounds to dismiss or reduce the charge while preparing to present your defense to a jury
We’ll also help you understand bond conditions, court dates, contact restrictions, and what to avoid saying publicly. Getting us involved early gives us more time to preserve evidence that might otherwise be lost.
Contact a Class B Felony Lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri Today
If police want to question you, you have the right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer. Don’t consent to a search or discuss the accusation online. If you’ve already been charged, an attorney can begin preserving evidence and identifying your options right away.
Contact Combs Waterkotte today for a confidential consultation about a Class B felony investigation or charge in Kansas City. We’ll listen to what happened, explain the immediate risks and your options, and start building a defense focused on protecting your freedom and future.
Resources
For more information on criminal defense in Kansas City or anywhere else in Missouri, call the Combs Waterkotte criminal defense attorneys right away at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a confidential consultation.
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