Criminal Defense Attorney in Ste. Genevieve, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Ste. Genevieve, MO. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you understand the grave nature of the charges that you are looking at. Even being convicted of a minor infraction could cause you to pay an expensive fine, do time in county jail, or have to spend several years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only magnifies these consequences: not only are you subject to a number of years locked up 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 a large number of citizens take for granted. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning guns, running in an election, or holding specific occupations. Also, in many situations, you will be forced to mark your status as a convicted felon on job or rent applications, which often heavily limits where they can live or work.

The experienced Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many Ste. Genevieve-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm recognizes that people with good intetions can get caught up in bad situations, and our criminal defense lawyers work to limit the damage criminal charges have on your reputation, life, and freedom. Our record of success is notable among Ste. Genevieve 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 Ste. Genevieve clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal case.

Ste. Genevieve, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

An allegation of any crime is a scary enough proposition, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require a heightened caliber of legal knowledge and dilligence. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department often touts that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will stop at nothing to get a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a federal prison, and carry a federal conviction on your record for the rest of your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning positive results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Ste. Genevieve, MO is not scared to face off against any opponent — be it local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight tirelessly on our clients’ behalf. We have stood up for many Ste. Genevieve-area residents who were looking at all sorts of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is a certainly 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The proficient Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Ste. Genevieve, 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 will always receive thoughtful, personalized counsel. 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 freedom and future at risk of being taken from you, you need a legal ally to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not wait reaching out to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in Ste. Genevieve, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can dedicate our time and effort toward 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 speak to a Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense attorney 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 could lose years of your life serving time in the state prison system, and as a convicted felon you lose lifelong rights that many people take for granted. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are limited 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 obstacle to living a successful, lawful life.

If you have already received a felony conviction or believe you are likely to be convicted, all hope is not lost. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and for certain cases you may be eligible to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Ste. Genevieve, MO to explore your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to learn how our Ste. Genevieve, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

In Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are classified into categories based on 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 – no more than seven years in prison
Class E Felony – a maximum of four years in prison

Ultimately, the outcome of your felony criminal case is influenced by a variety of variables. If you are convicted of a felony, the precise punishment you are sentenced to will be decided by the judge. They will weigh factors such as the situation surrounding 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 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 Ste. Genevieve criminal defense attorney, your original Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you a less severe.

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 decide whether or not you are guilty. Contact our Ste. Genevieve, MO felony defense attorneys today to discuss your case and your options and receive quality counsel and representation.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

As with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are grouped into categories 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 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Ste. Genevieve, 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 Ste. Genevieve, 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at 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 once again during this period you could be facing harsher penalties.

An increasing number of Ste. Genevieve drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our top-notch Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Ste. Genevieve, 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 getting your Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket fixed.

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

Selecting the right Ste. Genevieve, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time behind bars. Unlike other Ste. Genevieve 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 get anytime access to the Ste. Genevieve criminal defense lawyer 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 Ste. Genevieve, from a small moving violation for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but preceding that we suggest that you take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the driven Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.