Criminal Defense Attorney in Washington County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Washington County, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a criminal offense, you know that the situation is to be taken seriously. Even a conviction for a small infraction could force you to pay a hefty fine, do time behind bars, or have to spend several years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only are you subject to a number of years encarcerated in the Missouri state prison system. And even following your release from prison you will no longer enjoy additional rights or privileges that most citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms, running in an election, or holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, you could be forced to disclose your status as a convicted felon on housing or employment applications, which often drastically limits where they can live or work.

The winning Washington County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many Washington County-area residents fight criminal charges. 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 a criminal conviction has on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of success distinguishes us from other Washington County 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 Washington County clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Give us a call today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Washington County, MO criminal case.

Washington County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is a scary enough situation, but criminal charges at the federal level require a heightened level of legal knowledge and dilligence. Prosecutors for the United States courts are poised to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department often brags that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will use the full arsenal of resources at their disposal to coax a guilty plea, guarantee that you spend years in a federal prison, and have a federal conviction on your record for the rest of your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Washington County, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and winning favorable outcomes for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Washington County, MO is not scared to square 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 assisted many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the Washington County area and helped them 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 Washington County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The experienced Washington County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Washington County, Missouri have years of experience protecting defendants’ rights and fighting against criminal allegations. When you hire a criminal defense attorney with our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you can be confident that you will always receive thoughful counsel and dedicated legal defense. Whether a misdemeanor or felony, your case and your future are important to us. You have one dedicated attorney on your case and you can reach our lawyers and paralegals any time.

With your freedom and future in jeopardy, it is imperative that you find someone to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not procrastinate speaking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight 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 sound approach to your case and lifting the weight of the unknown from your shoulders. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to speak to a criminal defense attorney in Washington County, MO about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

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 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 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 impairment to moving forward in life.

If you are already a felon or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, do not lose hope. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be able to pursue a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Consult an experienced criminal defense attorney in Washington County, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Washington County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Felony Charges and Punishments in Washington County, Missouri

In Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are categorized into five classes based on the severity of the crime. 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 – no more than four years in prison

In the end, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case depends on a variety of factors. If you are convicted of a felony, the precise terms of your punishment will be up to the judge. The judge in your case will take into account information such as the situation surrounding the crime, your personal history and other details.

However, there are exceptions to the guidelines above. The classification of some crimes may be enhanced, so a crime typically considered 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 certain crimes that are considered dangerous or crimes based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Washington County representing you, your original Class B felony could be reduced to a lesser felony, a felony could be dropped down 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 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 Washington 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 classified 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

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. 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 Washington County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Washington County, MO

Did you know Combs Waterkotte also handles traffic tickets and other aspects of traffic law? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our Washington County-based defense attorneys can help you through our excellent 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 written a traffic ticket in Washington County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Washington County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be looking at increased penalties.

Many Washington County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Washington County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop 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. Most importantly, our exceptional Washington County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 issued a traffic ticket in Washington 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 start the process of fixing your Washington County traffic ticket.

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

Choosing the right Washington County, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time behind bars. In contrast to other Washington County 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 have 24/7 access to the Washington County criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter the circumstances, the place, or the hour, you can discuss your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you are looking at criminal charges in Washington County, from a small traffic ticket for speeding to serious felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Talk to us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule 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 experienced Washington County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.