Sex crimes attorney in University City, MO. Facing sex crime charges in the University City, MO area? Combs Waterkotte is ready to stand by your side with proven, aggressive defense strategies. If you’ve been accused of a sex crime in University City, MO, don’t wait—reach out to our skilled sex crimes attorneys today. Call (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free, confidential case evaluation.
We understand how high the stakes are. A conviction could mean prison time, lifelong sex offender registration, and permanent damage to your future. Trust an experienced sex crimes attorney in University City, MO to protect your rights and fight for your freedom.
Legal Videos
What Is Forensic Interviewing in Child Sex Cases?
What Is Forensic Interviewing in Child Sex Cases? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including …
Can Child Interviews Be Challenged in Court?
Can Child Interviews Be Challenged in Court? Attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including …
Can DCFS Interviews Be Used in a Criminal Case?
Can DCFS Interviews Be Used in a Criminal Case? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including …
What if the Allegation is Based on Coaching or Manipulation?
What if the Allegation is Based on Coaching or Manipulation? Attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime …
Can DCFS Take My Kids Because of Allegations?
Can DCFS Take My Kids Because of Allegations? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including sexual …
What if a Child Made the Allegation in a Custody Dispute?
What if a Child Made the Allegation in a Custody Dispute? Attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges …
What Is Forensic Interviewing in Child Sex Cases?
What Is Forensic Interviewing in Child Sex Cases? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including …
Can Child Interviews Be Challenged in Court?
Can Child Interviews Be Challenged in Court? Attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including …
Can DCFS Interviews Be Used in a Criminal Case?
Can DCFS Interviews Be Used in a Criminal Case? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including …
What if the Allegation is Based on Coaching or Manipulation?
What if the Allegation is Based on Coaching or Manipulation? Attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime …
Can DCFS Take My Kids Because of Allegations?
Can DCFS Take My Kids Because of Allegations? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including sexual …
What if a Child Made the Allegation in a Custody Dispute?
What if a Child Made the Allegation in a Custody Dispute? Attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges …
Article Summary
Being accused of a sex crime in University City, MO is life-altering, and the consequences can follow you forever. This page explains how an experienced sex crimes attorney can protect your rights, challenge the prosecution’s case, and fight to avoid harsh penalties like prison time and mandatory sex offender registration. Learn what types of charges we defend, why early action is critical, and how our discreet, aggressive defense strategies help clients protect their freedom and reputation when facing serious allegations.
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Sex Crime Offenses We Defend in University City, MO
Allegations of sex crimes in University City, MO can vary greatly, from lesser misdemeanors to severe felonies that carry life-changing penalties. At Combs Waterkotte, we have experience defending clients against a wide range of charges, including:
- Rape: Rape involves nonconsensual sexual intercourse or penetration and is treated as a serious felony in Missouri, with possible prison sentences ranging from 5 years up to life without parole under Missouri Revised Statute § 566.030.
- Sexual Assault: Sexual assault in University City, MO refers to any unwanted sexual contact, including groping or inappropriate touching. In Missouri, it’s a felony offense that may lead to up to 30 years in prison depending on the severity of the case and any prior offenses.
- Statutory Rape: Statutory rape involves sexual activity with someone legally incapable of giving consent due to age. In University City and anywhere else in Missouri, that means under 17. Engaging in sexual activity with a child under 14 is charged as statutory rape in the first degree, a serious felony carrying lengthy prison terms.
- Child Pornography: Child pornography involves the creation, distribution, or possession of sexually explicit images or videos of children under the age of 18. It is a serious Class D or Class B felony offense that can result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years, and pursuant to RSMo. § 573.037, you could be subject to separate sentences for each article of child pornography you are accused of possessing.
- Sexual Misconduct with a Minor: Sexual misconduct with a minor in University City, MO involves sexual contact with a minor who is under the age of 15, including acts such as exposing one’s genitals or coercing the minor to expose their genitals or breasts. Other forms of sexual misconduct are also illegal in Missouri, but sexual misconduct with a minor is the most serious offense under RSMo. § 566.083, often a Class D or Class E felony, and can result in a prison sentence and other consequences.
Consequences of a University City, MO Sex Crimes Conviction Are Too Severe to Face Alone
If you are convicted of a sex crime in Missouri, you are subject to severe consequences that can impact your life for years to come, including restrictions on where you can live and work, as well as constant damage to your personal and professional relationships.
The facts of each case are unique, and every detail matters. Whether it’s challenging unreliable evidence or exposing procedural errors, your defense starts now. With a tough and tactical University City, MO sex crimes attorney on your side from the start, you improve your odds of avoiding the harshest outcomes. Here’s what we bring to your corner from day one:
- Expert Legal Representation in University City, MO: Backed by decades of combined legal insight, our University City, MO sex crimes attorneys are with you every step of the way. From pretrial preparation to courtroom defense, we offer honest advice, develop proven defense strategies, and work tirelessly to protect your rights, reputation, and freedom.
- Thorough Case Investigations: We don’t rely on assumptions. Every case begins with a meticulous evaluation by a seasoned Combs Waterkotte defense attorney in University City, MO. We dig into police reports, scrutinize evidence, identify legal errors, and speak with potential witnesses — all to build a personalized defense strategy that fits your exact situation.
- Confident Courtroom Defense in University City, MO: Our University City, MO sex crimes attorneys are tenacious litigators who present compelling arguments on your behalf in court. They rigorously question witnesses, dismantle the prosecution’s arguments, and present evidence and testimony to support your defense. The objective is to raise reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury, aiming for an acquittal, or, when that’s not possible, to reduce the severity of any sentence imposed.
- Ongoing Legal Help After Trial in University City: A conviction isn’t the end in University City, MO. Our work continues with appeals, motions for post-conviction relief, and efforts to reduce or reverse wrongful outcomes. Your fight for justice deserves tireless advocacy, and we never stop pushing for the best result possible.
Fighting Back: Common Legal Defenses to Sex Crime Charges in University City, MO
A sex crime accusation can flip your world upside down. But you are not powerless. The right legal strategy, built on the facts and guided by an experienced University City, MO sex crimes attorney, can lead to reduced charges or even full acquittal. Here are some of the most proven defenses our legal team may use in your case:
- Consent:
In many cases, the issue isn’t whether something happened — it’s whether it was consensual. If both individuals voluntarily agreed and were legally allowed to give consent, this defense can dismantle the prosecution’s argument. Texts, messages, prior communications, or witnesses can all help show mutual agreement. - Alibi:
If you weren’t there, you couldn’t have committed the crime. An alibi defense uses concrete evidence like phone data, receipts, or security footage to prove you were elsewhere at the time of the alleged offense. - Fabricated Claims:
Sometimes people lie — out of anger, spite, or to gain leverage in custody or divorce battles. We expose inconsistencies, motives, and lack of evidence to reveal false allegations and protect your name and freedom in University City, MO. - Your Rights Were Violated:
If the police in or around University City, MO violated your constitutional rights, such as conducting an illegal search or coercing a confession in the University City, MO area, your sex crimes attorney can move to suppress improperly obtained evidence or even have the charges thrown out entirely. - Weak or Circumstantial Evidence:
When prosecutors rely on speculation, sketchy witness claims, or flimsy forensic tests, it’s our job to expose those weaknesses. If the case doesn’t hold up under scrutiny, your University City, MO sex crimes lawyer will push hard for dismissal or acquittal. - Mental Incapacity or Diminished Responsibility:
When mental illness or cognitive limitations played a role at the time of the alleged offense, we may pursue a defense of diminished responsibility, showing you lacked the intent necessary for conviction and arguing for reduced or alternative sentencing. - Reasonable Belief of Legal Age:
In University City, MO statutory sex crime cases, we may argue that you had a reasonable and good-faith belief that the other individual was of legal age. This defense depends on the specific facts, but it can be effective in minimizing charges or penalties.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
Your Best Defense Starts with a University City, MO Sex Crimes Attorney Who Fights for You
Sex crime charges are among the most serious a person can face — but you are not alone. When you hire Combs Waterkotte in University City, MO, you gain a defense team that brings relentless preparation and deep courtroom experience to your case. We treat every case like everything is on the line, because it is.
As a respected University City, MO criminal defense firm, we know what’s at stake. From the moment you contact us, we go to work building a powerful defense strategy, challenging the prosecution’s case, and helping you navigate every phase of the legal process. Our track record includes successfully defending clients against serious charges, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
Other types of cases we take on in University City, MO are:
Take Action Now, Your Future Depends on It. Call a University City, MO Sex Crimes Attorney.
If you’ve been accused of a sex crime in or around University City, MO, or if you think you might be under investigation, don’t wait. You have no time to waste. Talking to police without a lawyer can make your situation far worse. Every conversation and decision matters from the very first moment.
Call a skilled University City, MO sex crimes attorney at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online to schedule a free consultation to protect your rights and get clear, honest answers about your options. We are ready to stand by you, fight for you, and work tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome.
