Criminal Defense Attorney in Olivette, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Olivette, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a crime, you know the gravity of the charges that you are facing. Even being convicted of a small infraction could force you to pay an expensive fine, do 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 a number of years in the Missouri state prisons, but after your reentry into society you will continue to pay through the loss of additional privileges or rights that most citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are banned from owning guns, running in an election, or holding certain occupations. In addition, in many cases, you could be mandated to admit your status as a convicted felon on rental or job applications, which often severely limits where they can live or work.

The skilled Olivette, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many people overcome criminal allegations in the Olivette, MO area. Our firm understands that sometimes decent people can get caught up in bad situations, and our criminal defense firm works to limit the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your life, freedom, and reputation. Our impressive history of winning cases distinguishes us from other Olivette 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 Olivette clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Talk to us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your Olivette, MO criminal case.

Olivette, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing a criminal charge is a scary enough situation, but criminal charges at the federal level require a heightened amount of legal acumen and care. United States prosecuting attorneys are poised to win by any means necessary: the U.S. Justice Department often advertises that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. The vast majority of those convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will pull out every trick in the book to coax a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a federal prison, and have a federal conviction on your record for the remainder of your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Olivette, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive outcomes for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Olivette, MO is not scared 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 stood up for many Olivette-area residents who were looking at all kinds of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is an unquestionably scary 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 Olivette, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

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

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Olivette, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer with our capable and cunning St. Louis criminal defense firm, you can be confident that you will always receive 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 very life in jeopardy, it is imperative that you find someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not put off speaking to a Olivette area criminal defense attorney to help you overcome 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 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 Olivette, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?

A criminal conviction, even for a low class misdemeanor could result in a fine to pay, time to serve in jail, and/or years of supervised probation. For felony charges, a conviction can have a much more significant impact on your life. You may be sentenced to years encarcerated in state prisons, and once you are labeled 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 is an obvious limination to achieving a productive, fruitful life.

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 able to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Olivette, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Olivette, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in Olivette, Missouri

In Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are classified into categories that reflect the severity of the crime. 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 receive a felony conviction, the exact punishment you are sentenced to is decided 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, so a crime 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 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 Olivette criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you a less severe.

In some cases with the right circumstances and the skill of an experienced defense attorney, you can have the charges dropped entirely. If your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor refuses 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 decide whether or not you are guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Olivette, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

As with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are categorized based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, 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 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 Olivette, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Olivette, 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 defense attorneys in the Olivette, MO area can help you through our expert 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 given a traffic ticket in Olivette, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Olivette traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets usually 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 increased penalties.

A growing number of Olivette drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Olivette traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch Olivette traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Olivette, 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 Olivette traffic ticket.

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

Choosing the right Olivette, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time behind bars. Unlike other Olivette defense attorneys, our firm places complete satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be confident that you will get 24/7 access to the Olivette criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can discuss with us your case, the legal process, or any other topic.

When you have been indicted on criminal charges in Olivette, from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, but before that we suggest that you take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the experienced Olivette, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.