Criminal Defense Attorney in Maryland Heights, MO
Criminal Defense Attorney in Maryland Heights, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a criminal offense, you know the weight of the charges that you are facing. Even a conviction for a minor crime could cause you to pay an expensive fine, do time behind bars, or have to spend several years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only magnifies these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend several years encarcerated in the Missouri state prisons. And even after your release from prison you will continue to pay through the loss of additional rights or privileges that a large number of people take for granted. Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms, running in an election, or holding certain occupations. Also, in many situations, you will be required to mark your status as a convicted felon on job or rent applications, which often drastically curtails where they can live or work.
The skilled Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Law Group have helped many people overcome criminal convictions in the Maryland Heights, MO area. Our firm realizes that sometimes decent people can have a stroke of misfortune, and our criminal defense firm works to minimize the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your ability to live life. Our record of success is notable among Maryland Heights criminal defense law firms, and we pride ourselves on the special focus we place on our personalized touch and availability to our clients — just ask the satisfied Maryland Heights clients who have worked with Combs Law Group. Talk to us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your Maryland Heights, MO criminal case.
Maryland Heights, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
An allegation of any crime is a scary enough circumstance, but criminal charges at the federal level require a heightened level of legal acumen and dilligence. United States prosecuting attorneys are poised to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Department of Justice often touts that it has a conviction rate of about 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are 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, guarantee that you spend years in a federal prison, and have a federal conviction on your record for the remainder of your life.
At Combs Law Group, our Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and getting favorable results for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near Maryland Heights, MO is not scared to face off against any opponent — be it local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight fiercely on our clients’ behalf. We have protected many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the Maryland Heights area and helped them put what is an unquestionably harrowing experience in their rear-view mirror. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.
A Full-Service Maryland Heights, MO Criminal Defense Attorney
The experienced Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Law Group defend all cases and criminal charges, like:
- Motor Vehicle Tampering
- Assault and Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges and Possession
The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Law Group based in Maryland Heights, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer with our hard-working St. Louis criminal defense firm, you can be confident that you will always receive thoughful counsel and dedicated legal defense. 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 hanging in the balance, you need a legal ally you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not put off speaking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in Maryland Heights, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the sooner we can dedicate our time and effort toward building your case and lifting the weight of the unknown from your shoulders. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to speak to a Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.
What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?
Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. For felony charges, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You could lose years of your life serving time encarcerated in state prisons, and as a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges 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 have already received a felony conviction or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, do not lose hope. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and for certain cases you may be able to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Maryland Heights, MO to learn about your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to learn how our Maryland Heights, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.
Punishments for Felony Charges in Maryland Heights, Missouri
Under criminal law 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 – a maximum of 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 factors. If you are convicted of a felony, the precise punishment you are sentenced to is up to the judge. They will take into account factors such as the situation surrounding the crime, your criminal history and other details.
There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, meaning what is typically 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 crimes that are determined to have been carried out due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with the representation and dedication of a talented Maryland Heights criminal defense attorney, your original Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to obtain 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 but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your criminal defense lawyer with Combs Law Group will take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then decide whether or not to find you guilty. Contact Combs Law Group to discuss your case and potential options with our Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorneys.
Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri
Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are grouped into categories 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
The classification of a misdemeanor can also be enhanced based upon the circumstances or your criminal history. However, in misdemeanor cases your defense attorney can often help you avoid serving jail time in favor of 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 Law Group today at (314) 900-HELP to discuss your case and your options with a defense attorney near Maryland Heights, MO now.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Maryland Heights, MO
Did you know Combs Law Group also handles traffic tickets and other aspects of traffic law? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our defense attorneys in the Maryland Heights, MO area 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.
Getting a traffic ticket in Maryland Heights, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Maryland Heights traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree 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 struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Maryland Heights drivers are choosing Combs Law Group as their Maryland Heights traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Law Group brings unequaled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our top-notch Maryland Heights traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional 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 given a traffic ticket in Maryland Heights, 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 Maryland Heights traffic ticket.
In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Maryland Heights, MO area attorneys of Combs Law Group 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 Maryland Heights, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Law Group
Finding the right Maryland Heights, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time behind bars. In contrast to other Maryland Heights defense attorneys, our firm places total client satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Law Group, you can be sure that you will receive round-the-clock access to the Maryland Heights criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can talk to us about your case, the legal process, or any other topic.
When you are looking at criminal charges in Maryland Heights, from a small moving violation for failing to properly signal to severe felonies, make Combs Law Group your first call. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, but preceding that we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the experienced Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Law Group.