Criminal Defense Attorney in New Melle, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in New Melle, MO. If you have been charged with a crime, you do not need to be told the gravity of the charges that you are facing. Just being convicted of a small crime could cause you to pay an expensive fine, serve time in county jail, or have to spend several years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only are you at risk of a number of years locked up in the Missouri state prisons, but after your reentry into society you will continue to pay through the loss of additional rights or privileges that most people take for granted. Convicted felons are banned from owning firearms, running in an election, or holding certain occupations. Also, in many instances, you will be required to share your status as a convicted felon on job or housing applications, which usually severely curtails where they can live or work.

The winning New Melle, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many New Melle-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm knows that sometimes decent people can encounter hard times, and our criminal defense firm works to limit the effect criminal charges have on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of winning distinguishes us from other New Melle criminal defense law firms, and we pride ourselves on the special focus we place on our personalized touch and availability to our clients — hear it firsthand from the satisfied New Melle clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Talk to us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your New Melle, MO criminal case.

New Melle, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

An allegation of any crime is a scary enough proposition, but when the charges you are facing are federal charges, they demand a heightened level of legal intelligence and care. United States prosecuting attorneys are driven to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Department of Justice regularly advertises 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 pull out all the stops to get 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 New Melle, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and getting favorable results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near New Melle, MO is not scared to face off against any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight fiercely on our clients’ behalf. We have helped many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the New Melle area and helped them put what is an undoubtably harrowing 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 New Melle, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The experienced New Melle, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in New Melle, Missouri possess years of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a lawyer from our capable and cunning St. Louis-based law firm, you can rest assured that you will always receive thoughful counsel and dedicated legal defense. Whether 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 very life hanging in the balance, it is imperative that you find someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not wait speaking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in New Melle, 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 a sound approach to 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 criminal defense attorney in New Melle, MO about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. For felony charges, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You may be sentenced to years 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 holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or rental applications, which is an obvious limination to living a successful, lawful life.

If you have already received a felony conviction or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, you are not without options. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be eligible to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in New Melle, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to learn how our New Melle, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in New Melle, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are categorized into five classes that reflect the severity. Based 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 – no more than four years in prison

In the end, the outcome of your felony criminal case depends on a number of factors. If you are convicted of a felony, the exact punishment you are sentenced to will be up to the judge. The judge in your case will take into account factors 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, so a crime usually classified as a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. This can happen for some defendants with prior convictions or for crimes that are determined to have been carried out based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in New Melle representing you, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser felony, a felony charge could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to get you a less serious.

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 your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your criminal defense lawyer with Combs Waterkotte will take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then determine whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our New Melle, 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. Unlike prison time and possible parole that comes with a felony, 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

The classification of a misdemeanor can also be enhanced in certain cases. 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. 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 New Melle, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In New Melle, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our defense attorneys in the New Melle, MO area can help you through our excellent 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 New Melle, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your New Melle 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 staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be looking at stiffer penalties.

More and more New Melle drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their New Melle traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our exceptional New Melle 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 issued a traffic ticket in New Melle, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your New Melle traffic ticket.

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

Choosing the right New Melle, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time in jail. Unlike other New Melle defense attorneys, our firm places absolute satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be confident that you will get round-the-clock access to the New Melle criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter the circumstances, the place, or the hour, you can discuss with us your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you are facing criminal charges in New Melle, from a simple moving violation for speeding to severe felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, but before you call we invite you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the experienced New Melle, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.