Criminal Defense Attorney in Affton, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Affton, MO. If you have been charged with a crime, you do not need to be told the weight of the charges that you are looking at. Even a conviction for a minor misdemeanor could force you to pay an expensive fine, spend time in county jail, or have to spend multiple years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only are you at risk of several years locked up in the Missouri state prisons, but following your release you will continue to pay through the loss of certain privileges or rights that a large number of people assume they will always have. Convicted felons are banned from owning firearms, running in an election, or holding specific jobs. Also, in many instances, you will be required to share your status as a convicted felon on rental or job applications, which often heavily curtails where they can work or live.

The winning Affton, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many Affton-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm recognizes that people with good intetions can get caught up in bad situations, and our criminal defense lawyers work to limit the effect criminal charges have on your ability to live life. Our impressive history of success distinguishes us from other Affton criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the heart of all that we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Affton clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your Affton, MO criminal case.

Affton, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

An allegation of any crime is a scary enough circumstance, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require an extra stage of legal intelligence and dilligence. United States prosecuting attorneys are driven to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Justice Department often brags that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will use the full arsenal of resources at their disposal to induce a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a Bureau of Prisons facility, and resign you to live the rest of your life with a federal criminal conviction.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Affton, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and getting positive outcomes for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Affton, MO is not afraid to take on any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight passionately on our clients’ behalf. We have helped many Affton-area residents who were facing all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is a certainly scary experience behind them. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.

A Full-Service Affton, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The skilled Affton, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Affton, Missouri have decades of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a criminal defense attorney from our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you can be confident that you will always get personalized care and dedicated representation. Regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony, we treat your case, and your life, with the utmost care. You will always be able to reach and speak with the leading criminal defense attorney assigned to your case.

With your freedom and future in jeopardy, you need someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not put off talking to a Affton area criminal defense attorney to help you overcome your charges in Affton, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the sooner we can get to work building a defense strategy and allowing you to breathe you to breathe a little easier as we tackle the looming uncertainty of an impending criminal court proceeding. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to get in touch with a Affton, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

Criminal Charges and Consequences Under Missouri Law

A conviction for even a low class misdemeanor can leave you with a sizable fine, time to serve in jail, and/or years of supervised probation. For felony charges, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You may be sentenced to years encarcerated in state prisons, and once you are labeled a convicted felon you lose lifelong rights that many people take for granted. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are barred from purchasing or possessing firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or obtaining certain types of employment. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are required to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or rental applications, which often severely limits where you can work or live.

If you are already a felon or believe you are likely to be convicted, you are not without options. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and for certain cases you may be eligible to request a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Affton, MO to explore your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to find out what our Affton, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Affton, Missouri

Under criminal law in Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are classified into categories that reflect the severity. Depending on what class felony you are convicted of, the punishment will vary.

Class A Felony – minimum of 10 years and no more than 30 years in prison, or life in prison
Class B Felony – at least five but no more than 15 years in prison
Class C Felony – between three and 10 years in prison
Class D Felony – a maximum of seven years in prison
Class E Felony – no more than four years in prison

Ultimately, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case depends on a number of variables. If you are convicted of a felony, the exact terms of your punishment will be determined by the judge. The judge in your case will weigh information including the specific circumstances of the crime, your personal history and other details.

There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, meaning a crime usually classified as a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied for some defendants with prior convictions or for certain crimes that are considered dangerous or crimes due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with the representation and dedication of a talented Affton criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B felony could be reduced to a lower class felony, a felony charge could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to get you a lesser punishment.

You may also be able to have the charged dropped completely, if you have the right circumstances and a diligent and skillful criminal defense attorney. If you have a strong case but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your Combs Waterkotte criminal defense lawyer will present your case meticulously to your peers in a jury trial, leaving the jury members to then determine whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our Affton, MO felony defense attorneys today to discuss your case and your options and receive quality counsel and representation.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are classified based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, misdemeanors are punishable by no more than one year in county or city jail or may just involve fines.

Class A Misdemeanor – up to one year in jail; a fine of up to $2,000
Class B Misdemeanor – up to six months in jail; a fine of up to $1,000
Class C Misdemeanor – up to 15 days in jail; a fine of up to $700
Class D Misdemeanor – a fine of up to $500

Similar to felonies, sentencing for a misdemeanor can be enhanced in certain cases. However, you can often avoid jail time for misdemeanors and instead agree to a period of supervision known as probation. You may also be required to meet additional requirements as a condition of your probation, such as community service or competition of a substance abuse rehabilitation program.

Misdemeanors are not to be taken lightly, but are not as serious as felony convictions and a good criminal defense attorney can help you get an outcome that is minimally disruptive to your life and allows you to move forward in a positive light. Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP to discuss your case and your options with a defense attorney near Affton, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Affton, MO

Did you know Combs Waterkotte also handles traffic tickets and other aspects of traffic law? Even if you have never been arrested for a crime, our defense attorneys in the Affton, MO area can help you through our excellent traffic ticket legal services. Affordable and effective as attorneys against traffic tickets, do not let our record of success in difficult criminal cases intimidate you or dissuade you from hiring us for top traffic ticket legal representation.

Being written a traffic ticket in Affton, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Affton traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be subject to increased penalties.

An increasing number of Affton drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Affton traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our exceptional Affton traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Affton, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Affton traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Affton, MO area attorneys of Combs Waterkotte have the skill and expertise you need from your lawyer in any criminal or personal injury case. Learn more about the types of cases we win below.

Hire Your Affton, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Selecting the right Affton, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time in jail. In contrast to other Affton defense attorneys, our firm places absolute satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you will get anytime access to the Affton criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you can talk to us about your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you have been indicted on criminal charges in Affton, from a small moving violation for speeding to severe felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Talk to us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, but before that we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the skilled Affton, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.