Criminal Attorney Centralia, MO
Criminal attorney in Centralia, MO. Regardless of how you got here, you have privileges that are guaranteed by our constitution. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is committed to aggressively and relentlessly protecting your rights to secure the best possible results for those in need of criminal defense in Centralia, MO. We take on criminal cases ranging from credit card fraud to being charges with the death of another. Whether you’re accused of something you didn’t do, a situation was outside of your control or you just made a poor decision, we will fight tenaciously for you and aggressively enforce your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Centralia, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation consultation.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, your number one fear is having your freedom put in jeopardy. The United States has more inmates per capita than any other country. The best way to stay out of jail or prison in Centralia, MO is with the aid of a veteran and dedicated criminal attorney. We know that, whatever reason you are in this situation, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. Let us fight for you and get your charges reduced or thrown out and negotiate with a prosecutor and judge or defend you in in front of a jury to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Call a criminal attorney in Centralia, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.
What a Criminal Attorney in Centralia, MO Can Do For You
There are reasons everyone has a right to effective legal representation, and there are various ways a criminal attorney can help your case:
Delay or Stop Charges From Being Filed
After an arrest, a criminal attorney can talk to a prosecutor or district attorney in Centralia, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and stop the charges from being filed or reduce the severity of the charges.
Enforce Your Rights
When Centralia, MO law enforcement believes they have made a legitimate arrest, there are many things they can do to obtain the evidence needed to bring formal charges. According to a Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
, police are even allowed to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will let you know what to say and what not to say and ensure law enforcement does not violate:
- Your Fourth Amendment right against searches with a warrant
- Your Fifth Amendment right to due process
- Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation
Perform an Investigation
A criminal attorney in Centralia, MO will carry out a meticulous investigation, equal to or eclipsing that of police, so that we can find physical evidence and witnesses that are beneficial to your case. We’ll also examine the state’s investigation, and see if there were any procedural errors or if there are holes in the state’s case.
Develop a Defense Strategy
Different cases are best defended in different ways, depending on the nature of the charges and the evidence the state is in possession of. In some cases, we may recommend to work with the prosecution to mitigate the sentencing. We may request character references from neighbors and family arguing that you should receive leniency because of mitigating circumstances. In other cases we may be able to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if we proceed to trial, convince a jury that the burden of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt has not been met. Did you have a reliable alibi? Was important evidence contaminated? Is there somebody else that may have committed the crime? We’ll explore every option to persuade a jury they cannot ethically return a guilty verdict with what was presented in court.
Give You Sound Legal Advice
A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be straightforward with you about the odds of success for different defense strategies. We understand you’d like to be acquitted. Still, sometimes the realistic most favorable option can be accepting some of the charges. No matter what, we will recommend what we think is best for you and let you make the final decision.
Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Centralia, MO Takes
Your Centralia, MO criminal attorney has experience offering the highest level of legal advocacy in numerous cases, from Class D misdemeanors to Class A felonies like murder. Some of the cases we see most often are:
- Violent Crimes
- Theft/Larceny
- DWI/DUI
- Drug Charges
- Probation Violation
- Child Abuse, Neglect or Abandonment
- Gun Charges
- Sex Crimes
- Juvenile Crimes
- Traffic Tickets
Whatever charges you’re facing in Centralia, MO, Combs Waterkotte knows that it does not define your character. We understand that nobody’s perfect all the time, or we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For sympathetic, dedicated and expert legal representation, get in touch with a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP.
Public Defender or a Private Centralia, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?
The option of a free public defender can be attractive, but most of the time you’ll be best served by enlisting the services of a private Centralia, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, a public defender may not be able to devote as much time to you case as necessary. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System stated that Centralia, MO public defenders often do not even have half the amount of time necessary to provide an adequate defense. While there are excellent public defenders, they are human and the realities of their job may mean they cannot devote as much time necessary to your case.
Another study found that the state is give better deals to defendants with a private criminal attorney than one who has a public defender. It also reported that private criminal attorneys on average secure prison sentences five years shorter than public defenders, despite private attorneys generally taking on more serious cases.
Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in Centralia, MO:
Call a Criminal Attorney in Centralia, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte
When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk consultation that’s free of any disapproval, no matter what your level of innocence and the evidence against you. Our clients and their freedom matter to us. You’ll have the cell phone number of the criminal attorney working on your case. Whether you did nothing wrong or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll give you the devoted, aggressive and empathetic legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in Centralia, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.
