Criminal Defense Attorney in Pacific, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Pacific, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a crime, you know the weight of the charges that you are facing. Just a conviction for a minor misdemeanor could cause you to pay a sizable fine, serve time in county jail, or have to spend multiple years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only are you subject to several years in the Missouri state prisons, but after your release from prison you will be further punished via loss of certain privileges or rights that a large number of people take for granted. Convicted felons are barred from owning guns, running for office, or holding specific jobs. In addition, in many cases, you could be required to disclose your status as a convicted felon on rental or job applications, which often severely limits where they can work or live.

The skilled Pacific, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many people overcome criminal allegations in the Pacific, MO area. Our firm realizes that sometimes good people can get caught up in bad situations, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the detremental consequences a criminal conviction has on your life, freedom, and reputation. Our impressive history of winning distinguishes us from other Pacific 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 Pacific clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Give us a call today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Pacific, MO criminal case.

Pacific, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing a criminal charge is stressful in itself, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they demand a heightened amount of legal intelligence and dilligence. Prosecutors for the United States courts are poised to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department regularly boasts that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will stop at nothing to get a guilty plea, ensure 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 Pacific, MO criminal defense attorneys have vast and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning favorable results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Pacific, MO is not afraid 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 assisted many Pacific-area residents who were looking at all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is an unquestionably 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 Pacific, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

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

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Pacific, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer from our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you can be confident that you will always get thoughtful, personalized counsel. 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 very life on the line, you need someone to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not put off speaking to a Pacific 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 sound approach to 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 talk to a criminal defense attorney in Pacific, MO about your criminal case.

Criminal Charges and Consequences Under Missouri Law

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. When the crime is a felony, a conviction can have a much more significant impact on your life. You may be sentenced to years in the state prison system, 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 prohibited from owning firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are required to disclose your status as a convicted felon on applications for jobs, housing and other opportunities and resources, 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, you are not without options. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be able to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Pacific, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Pacific, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Pacific, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are categorized into five classes that reflect the severity. 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

In the end, the outcome of your felony criminal case is influenced by a variety of variables. If you receive a felony conviction, the exact punishment you are sentenced to will be decided by the judge. They will take into account information such as the situation surrounding 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 considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied if you have 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. On the other hand, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Pacific representing you, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony charge could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue 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 your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor refuses 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 decide whether or not to find you guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Pacific, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are categorized 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 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. 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 Pacific, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Pacific, MO

Did you know Combs Waterkotte also handles traffic tickets and other aspects of traffic law? Even if you have never been arrested for a crime, our Pacific-based defense attorneys 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.

Getting a traffic ticket in Pacific, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Pacific traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically 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 once again during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.

An increasing number of Pacific drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Pacific traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure 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 police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch Pacific traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Pacific, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Pacific traffic ticket.

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

Selecting the right Pacific, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time incarcerated. In contrast to other Pacific 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 get 24/7 access to the Pacific criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you can discuss with us your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you are looking at criminal charges in Pacific, from a small moving violation for an improper lane change to serious felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before that we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the skilled Pacific, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.