Criminal Defense Attorney in Bowling Green, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Bowling Green, MO. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you do not need to be told the gravity of the charges that you are looking at. Even a conviction for a minor infraction could cause you to pay an expensive fine, serve time behind bars, or have to spend several years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend a number of years in the Missouri state prisons, but following your reentry into society you will continue to pay through the loss of additional privileges or rights that many people take for granted. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning firearms, running in an election, or holding specific jobs. In addition, in many cases, you will be forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or housing applications, which usually heavily curtails where they can work or live.

The experienced Bowling Green, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many Bowling Green-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm gets that sometimes decent people can have a stroke of misfortune, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your life, freedom, and reputation. Our impressive history of winning is notable among Bowling Green criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the heart of all that we do — just ask the satisfied Bowling Green clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Talk to us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Bowling Green, MO criminal case.

Bowling Green, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing a criminal charge is stressful enough, but criminal charges at the federal level require a heightened amount of legal intelligence and focus. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win by any means necessary: the U.S. Justice Department regularly touts that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. The vast majority of those convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for a confession 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 federal prison, and carry a federal conviction on your record for the rest of your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Bowling Green, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive outcomes for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near Bowling Green, MO is not scared to take on any opponent — be it local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight passionately on our clients’ behalf. We have helped many Bowling Green-area residents who were facing all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is an undoubtably troubling 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 Bowling Green, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The proficient Bowling Green, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, such as:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Bowling Green, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer from our capable and cunning St. Louis-based law firm, 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 have one dedicated attorney on your case and you can reach our lawyers and paralegals any time.

With your freedom and future in jeopardy, it is imperative that you find a legal ally you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your rights. Do not procrastinate speaking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your criminal charges at any level in the Missouri area. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the sooner we can get to work building your case 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 speak to a Bowling Green, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

A conviction for even a minor infraction or misdemeanor can leave you with a fine to pay, county jail time, and/or years of supervised probation. When the crime is a felony, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You could lose years of your life serving time 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 limited 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 forced 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 have already received a felony conviction or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, do not panic. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be eligible to pursue a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Bowling Green, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to learn how our Bowling Green, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Bowling Green, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are categorized into five classes that reflect the severity of the crime. Depending on the class of your felony conviction, 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 – no more than seven years in prison
Class E Felony – a maximum of four years in prison

Ultimately, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case is influenced by a variety of variables. If you are convicted of a felony, the precise punishment you are sentenced to is up to the judge. They will weigh information such as the specific circumstances of the crime, your criminal history and other details.

However, there are exceptions to the guidelines above. The classification of some crimes may be enhanced, meaning a crime typically classified as a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied if you have prior convictions or in certain crimes that are considered dangerous or crimes based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with the representation and dedication of a talented Bowling Green criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B charge could be dropped down to a lesser class felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you a lesser punishment.

In some cases with the right circumstances and the skill of an experienced defense attorney, you can have the charges dropped entirely. If you have a strong case demonstrating your innocence but the prosecutor refuses to drop the charges, your criminal defense lawyer with Combs Waterkotte will present your case meticulously to your peers in a jury trial, leaving the jury members to then decide whether or not you are guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Bowling Green, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are classified based on severity. Unlike prison time and possible parole that comes with a felony, the maximum punishment allowed for a misdemeanor is a year in jail, and in many cases no jail time is required, but rather the payment of a fine.

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 based upon the circumstances or your criminal history. However, you can often avoid jail time for misdemeanors and instead agree to a period of supervision known as probation. As conditions of your probation sentence, you may be required to fulfill additional requirements 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 Bowling Green, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Bowling Green, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have never been arrested for a crime, our Bowling Green-based defense attorneys can help you through our expert traffic law 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 Bowling Green, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Bowling Green traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to harsher penalties.

More and more Bowling Green drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Bowling Green traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure 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 affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional Bowling Green traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Bowling Green, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Bowling Green traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Bowling Green, 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 Bowling Green, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Choosing the right Bowling Green, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time behind bars. In contrast to other Bowling Green defense attorneys, our firm places complete satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be sure that you will have round-the-clock access to the Bowling Green criminal defense lawyer that is 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 any other topic.

When you are looking at criminal charges in Bowling Green, from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to federal felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before you call we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the skilled Bowling Green, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.