Rape Defense Lawyers, Polo, MO. Being accused of rape can turn your world upside down, and Missouri law treats people convicted of rape severely. Facing these charges can seem like it’s the end of your life.
But it’s not. Allegations and indictments aren’t guilt. And Combs Waterkotte is here to battle against bad outcomes.
We protect Polo, MO, residents’ freedom and give them a strong defense against any criminal charges. We’re ready to start working on your case today—speak with us at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation.
We are here to help, not to judge. Our rape and sexual assault defense lawyers will be in your corner from day one. Reach out online or dial (314) 900-HELP to start today.
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Why You Need Combs Waterkotte’s Rape Defense Attorneys:
When you’ve been charged with sexual assault or rape in Polo, MO, you need help from expert rape defense lawyers before you do anything else in your case. If you don’t hire someone, you’re up against the following:
- A Prison Sentence. The second-degree offences listed below all potentially result in prison sentences of up to 7 years, while the harsher first-degree charges can be as high as life sentences.
- Losing Your Rights. In Missouri, people convicted of felonies lose several significant rights, most notably the right to vote, the right to own a gun, and certain employment rights. It can also have an impact on your parental rights.
- Sex Offender Registration. If you’re convicted of rape, your name will likely be put on a public sex offender registry.
- Job Impacts. You can lose your job just for being accused of rape.
When you see the penalties for sexual assault in Missouri, they can be overwhelming. Because of this, it’s important for you to hire Polo, MO, rape defense lawyers fast. And Combs Waterkotte is prepared to help.
When you hire us, you’re getting the following from the team crafting your rape/sexual assault defense:
- A client-centered approach because it’s important to fully know your side of the story before building a defense.
- An experienced team of rape defense lawyers who have experience with thousands of cases, many just like yours.
- A staunch defense that is built for trial should your case go that far.
- Longstanding relationships with prosecutors across the state, which we lean on to come up with a plea deal to give you positive outcomes without going through a trial.
Don’t give the state a chance to build a case you can’t defend against—speak with us now at (314) 900-HELP to talk to one of our rape defense lawyers today.
Legal Videos
What Penalties Apply To Federal Sex Crime Convictions?
What Penalties Apply To Federal Sex Crime Convictions? Andrew Russek and Chris Combs from Combs Waterkotte federal criminal defense firm discuss potential penalties related to federal sex crime …
Do Federal Sex Crimes Require Sex Offender Registration?
Do Federal Sex Crimes Require Sex Offender Registration? Andrew Russek, a lawyer with leading federal criminal defense firm Combs Waterkotte, discusses the sex offender registry and federal sex …
What Makes A Sex Crime Federal Rather Than State?
What Makes A Sex Crime Federal Rather Than State? Andrew Russek and Chris Combs of Combs Waterkotte discuss factors that play into a sex crime being classified as federal, rather than …
What Are Federal Sex Crime Charges?
What Are Federal Sex Crime Charges? Chris Combs and Andrew Russek of Combs Waterkotte discuss the most common federal sex crime charges. Interview Transcript Scott Michael Dunn: Well, let's …
Everything You Need To Know About Federal Criminal Charges
Featured on Hexxen Studios, Chris Combs and Andrew Russek sat down to talk about federal criminal charges. In this video, you can learn about different types of federal charges, how they differ …
What Happens When You Are Wrongfully Accused of a Sex Crime?
What happens when you are wrongfully accused of a sex crime? Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Right. And you'll see sometimes, and I've had cases, where you had two individuals …
What Penalties Apply To Federal Sex Crime Convictions?
What Penalties Apply To Federal Sex Crime Convictions? Andrew Russek and Chris Combs from Combs Waterkotte federal criminal defense firm discuss potential penalties related to federal sex crime …
Do Federal Sex Crimes Require Sex Offender Registration?
Do Federal Sex Crimes Require Sex Offender Registration? Andrew Russek, a lawyer with leading federal criminal defense firm Combs Waterkotte, discusses the sex offender registry and federal sex …
What Makes A Sex Crime Federal Rather Than State?
What Makes A Sex Crime Federal Rather Than State? Andrew Russek and Chris Combs of Combs Waterkotte discuss factors that play into a sex crime being classified as federal, rather than …
What Are Federal Sex Crime Charges?
What Are Federal Sex Crime Charges? Chris Combs and Andrew Russek of Combs Waterkotte discuss the most common federal sex crime charges. Interview Transcript Scott Michael Dunn: Well, let's …
Everything You Need To Know About Federal Criminal Charges
Featured on Hexxen Studios, Chris Combs and Andrew Russek sat down to talk about federal criminal charges. In this video, you can learn about different types of federal charges, how they differ …
What Happens When You Are Wrongfully Accused of a Sex Crime?
What happens when you are wrongfully accused of a sex crime? Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Right. And you'll see sometimes, and I've had cases, where you had two individuals …
Defense Strategies Our Attorneys Use Versus Polo, MO Rape Charges:
Combs Waterkotte’s Polo rape defense lawyers have wide knowledge of Missouri rape and sexual assault laws, and effective ways to defend against the charges:
- Consent: In some rape cases, rather than being centered around whether or not the two parties had sex, the question is on consent, whether it was given or not, and whether it was freely given or not.
- Alibi: It’s highly unfortunate, but sometimes rape victims accuse the wrong person, and an alibi can be key to your defense.
- Physical Evidence: Even if you don’t have an alibi, physical evidence like DNA might be able to exonerate you.
- Fourth Amendment or Fifth Amendment Rights Violations: Sometimes, something goes wrong with the state’s investigation or how they handle the evidence—that can lead to it being thrown out for rights violations.
Your case needs a custom-designed strategy to give you the best possible odds at a positive outcome. At Combs Waterkotte, we build the finest defense possible for your circumstances and will tell you what outcomes we think are realistically achievable for you, and how best to get there.
What’s the Difference Between Rape, Statutory Rape, and Sodomy in Polo, MO?
If you had to define rape, the prototypical image would be someone being physically forced to have nonconsensual sex. But Missouri rape law has multiple different categories of rape, as well as defining sodomy as a similar offense.
We’ve outlined the different Polo, MO, criminal charges you could be facing when someone makes allegations of ‘rape:’
First Degree Rape:
First Degree Rape is defined in Missouri Revised Statute § 566.030 as having sex with another person who cannot consent, or compelling them to engage in sexual intercourse through force (this also includes drugging them while they are unaware).
First-degree rape is the main criminal charge that most people think of when they hear “rape.”
Second Degree Rape:
Second Degree Rape is defined in RSMo § 566.031 as having sex with another person without having their consent.
This is distinguished from first-degree rape in that the alleged victim had the ability to consent, but claims that they did not.
First Degree Statutory Rape:
First Degree Statutory Rape is defined in RSMo § 566.032 as having sex with someone younger than fourteen years old.
As opposed to the above rape charges, the differentiating factor with statutory rape is that it doesn’t matter if the alleged victim states that they provided “consent,” because people under that age are not legally able to do so.
Second Degree Statutory Rape:
Second Degree Statutory Rape is defined in RSMo § 566.034 as an adult over the age of twenty-one engaging in sexual intercourse with someone under the age of seventeen.
The difference between first-degree and second-degree statutory rape is the age range. It’s also important to be aware that Missouri has special ‘Romeo and Juliet’ laws having to do with sexual intercourse with individuals in the in-between ages of fourteen to sixteen.
First Degree Sodomy:
First Degree Sodomy is defined in RSMo § 566.060 as participating in either oral, anal, or digital sex with another personor otherwise penetrating that individual, while the alleged victim cannot consent, or is forced to participate.
You may notice that the language for this statute is nearly identical to that of first-degree rape; the main difference is that rape covers sexual intercourse, while sodomy covers other sexual acts.
Second Degree Sodomy:
Second Degree Sodomy is defined in RSMo § 566.061 as having either oral, anal, or digital sex with someone or otherwise penetrating an individual, with the knowledge that the other person does not consent.
Similar to second-degree rape, the differentiator between this and first-degree sodomy is that the alleged victim was able to consent, but did not do so.
Rape, statutory rape, and sodomy all have details that make them different from one another, however, one common trend is the lack of consent. Missouri defines consent for sexual activity as an affirmative, voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity from all relevant individuals who have the capacity to give consent. Checking that all parties consent is important prior to beginning any sexual activity.
Our Polo rape defense lawyers will defend you against all of the above charges and any other sexual assault allegations you may be facing.
Common Polo, MO Misconceptions About Rape:
“Without proof, the police in Polo won’t arrest you for rape.”
The Reality: If there’s no physical evidence, that can hurt the state’s chances of getting a conviction. However,, all that the police need to arrest you is probable cause (which doesn’t have to be more than an accusation).
“If you’re innocent of the charges, you don’t need a lawyer.”
The Reality: If you’re up against rape charges, you’ll always want a team of rape defense lawyers watching your back, whether you’re innocent or guilty. You don’t want to attempt to go through the court process alone or slip up and say something that can be misinterpreted.
“Missouri law says nobody can have sex with someone under 17.”
The Reality: While the age of consent in Missouri is 17, the state does have ‘Romeo and Juliet’ laws that allow people aged 14-16 to have sex with a partner up to four years older than themselves.
“A person can’t consent if they’ve had something to drink.”
The Reality: In reality, there isn’t a legal definition of being too drunk to consent. That said, if you have even the slightest suspicion that someone has had too much to drink, don’t have sex.
Combs Waterkotte Defends Against Rape Charges in Polo, MO. Combs Waterkotte Will Defend You.
Facing a rape accusation can be disturbing . And fighting against it on your own is hard. But you have another option. You can have Combs Waterkotte building your defense.
We have two former prosecutors who know how the state builds its cases against you. Our rape defense lawyers offer high-quality legal expertise to all of our clients. And we’re ready to take your case.
Talk to us today at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential consultation.
