Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Charles County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Charles County, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a crime, you do not need to be told that the situation is a serious ordeal. Just a conviction for a minor misdemeanor could cause you to pay a hefty fine, spend time in county jail, or have to spend several years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend a number of years in the Missouri state prison system. And even after your release from prison you will be further punished via loss of additional rights or privileges that most citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are banned from owning firearms, running for office, or holding specific occupations. In addition, in many situations, you will be forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on rent or employment applications, which often severely curtails where they can live or work.

The winning St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many St. Charles County-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm knows that sometimes good people can get caught up in bad situations, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the effect a criminal conviction has on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of winning cases distinguishes us from other St. Charles County 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 St. Charles County clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your St. Charles County, MO criminal case.

St. Charles County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing a criminal charge is intimidating enough, but when the charges you are facing are federal charges, they require a heightened caliber of legal knowledge and focus. 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 around 90 percent. The overwhelming majority of those convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will pull out all the stops to induce 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 St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive results for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near St. Charles County, MO is not afraid to square off against 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 helped many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the St. Charles County area and helped them put what is a certainly 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 St. Charles County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The experienced St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, including:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in St. Charles County, Missouri possess years of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a criminal defense attorney from our capable and cunning St. Louis-based law firm, you can rest assured that you will always get thoughful counsel and dedicated legal defense. Whether 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 freedom and future at risk of being taken from you, 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 talking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in St. Charles County, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can get to work building 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 speak to a St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?

A conviction, even for a low class misdemeanor can leave you with a sizable fine, time to serve in jail, and/or years of supervised probation. When the crime is a felony, a conviction can have a much more significant impact on your life. You could lose years of your life serving time 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 limited 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 job or rental applications, which often severely limits where you can work or live.

If you have already received a felony conviction 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 request a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Consult an experienced criminal defense attorney in St. Charles County, MO to explore your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to find out what our St. Charles County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in St. Charles County, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes 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 – a maximum of seven years in prison
Class E Felony – a maximum of four years in prison

In the end, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case is influenced by a number of variables. If you are convicted of a felony, the exact punishment you are sentenced to is up to the judge. The judge in your case will take into account factors including 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, meaning a crime usually 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 based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Conversely, with the representation and dedication of a talented St. Charles County criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B felony could be reduced to a lesser felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to obtain a less serious.

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 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 decide whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our St. Charles County, 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 grouped into categories 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, you can often avoid jail time for misdemeanors and instead agree to 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 St. Charles County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Charles County, 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 St. Charles County-based defense attorneys 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 St. Charles County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your St. Charles County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be looking at stiffer penalties.

A growing number of St. Charles County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Charles County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure 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 influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our top-notch St. Charles County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in St. Charles County, 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 getting your St. Charles County traffic ticket fixed.

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

Selecting the right St. Charles County, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time behind bars. In contrast to other St. Charles County defense attorneys, our firm places total client satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be confident that you will have anytime access to the St. Charles County criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can discuss your case, the legal process, or any other topic.

When you are looking at criminal charges in St. Charles County, from a simple moving violation for an improper lane change to severe felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Talk to us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, but preceding that we invite you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the experienced St. Charles County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.