Criminal Defense Attorney in Orchard Farm, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Orchard Farm, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a crime, you know that the situation is a serious ordeal. Just being convicted of a minor crime could force you to pay an expensive fine, serve time behind bars, or have to spend several years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only are you at risk of a number of years encarcerated in the Missouri state prison system. And even after your release from prison you will continue to pay through the loss of certain rights or privileges that most people assume they will always have. Convicted felons are banned from owning guns, running for office, or holding certain jobs. In addition, in many situations, you could be mandated to mark your status as a convicted felon on rent or employment applications, which usually heavily limits where they can work or live.

The skilled Orchard Farm, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many Orchard Farm-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm gets that sometimes good people can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and our criminal defense lawyers work to limit the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your life, freedom, and reputation. Our record of success is notable among Orchard Farm 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 Orchard Farm 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 Orchard Farm, MO criminal case.

Orchard Farm, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is a scary enough situation, but criminal charges at the federal level require an extra caliber of legal intelligence and care. United States prosecuting attorneys are driven to win by any means necessary: the U.S. Justice Department often boasts that it has a conviction rate of about 90 percent. The overwhelming 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 get a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a federal prison, and resign you to live the rest of your life with a federal criminal conviction.

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

The skilled Orchard Farm, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, such as:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Orchard Farm, Missouri possess years of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a criminal defense attorney with our capable and cunning St. Louis criminal defense firm, you can rest assured that you will always get dedicated service and individual attention and care. Regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony, we treat your case, and your life, with the utmost care. You can reach and speak to your dedicated defense attorney and legal team at any time.

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 fight on your behalf. Do not wait talking to a Orchard Farm area criminal defense attorney to help you overcome your criminal charges at any level in the Missouri area. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can dedicate our time and effort toward building a defense strategy and lifting the weight of the unknown from your shoulders. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to get in touch with a criminal defense attorney in Orchard Farm, MO 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 may be sentenced to years in the state prison system, and once you are labeled a convicted felon you lose lifelong rights that so many of us take for granted. Convicted felons are limited from owning 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, do not panic. 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. Consult a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Orchard Farm, MO to learn about how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to learn how our Orchard Farm, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Orchard Farm, Missouri

Under criminal law in Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are categorized into five classes based on 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 conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case depends on a number of factors. If you are convicted of a felony, the precise terms of your punishment will be decided by the judge. They will take into account information including the specific circumstances of the crime, your personal history and other details.

However, there are exceptions to the guidelines above. The classification of some crimes may be enhanced, meaning what is typically considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. This can happen for some defendants with prior convictions or in crimes that are determined to have been carried out due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Conversely, with the representation and dedication of a talented Orchard Farm criminal defense attorney, your original Class B charge could be reduced to a lower class felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to obtain a lesser punishment.

You may also be able to avoid a criminal conviction altogether, 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 take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then determine whether or not you are guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Orchard Farm, MO criminal defense attorneys.

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, 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. 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 Orchard Farm, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Orchard Farm, 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 Orchard Farm, 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.

Getting a traffic ticket in Orchard Farm, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Orchard Farm traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck 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 facing harsher penalties.

An increasing number of Orchard Farm drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Orchard Farm traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down 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. Most importantly, our top-notch Orchard Farm traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Orchard Farm, 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 begin the process of fixing your Orchard Farm traffic ticket.

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

Selecting the right Orchard Farm, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time incarcerated. In contrast to other Orchard Farm defense attorneys, our firm places absolute satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be sure that you will have anytime access to the Orchard Farm 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 anything else.

When you are facing criminal charges in Orchard Farm, from a simple moving violation for failing to properly signal to severe felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before that we suggest that you take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the driven Orchard Farm, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.