Criminal Defense Attorney in Dent County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Dent County, MO. If you have been arrested for a criminal offense, you understand the weight of the charges that you are looking at. Just a conviction for a minor crime could cause you to pay an expensive fine, serve time in county jail, or have to spend multiple years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend a number of years encarcerated in the Missouri state prisons. And even after your release you will continue to pay through the loss of certain privileges or rights that most people assume they will always have. Convicted felons are barred from owning guns, running for office, or holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, you could be required to disclose your status as a convicted felon on rent or employment applications, which often drastically curtails where they can live or work.

The skilled Dent County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many men and women overcome criminal convictions in the Dent County, MO area. Our firm understands that sometimes good people can encounter hard times, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the damage criminal charges have on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of success is notable among Dent County criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the heart of everything we do — just ask the satisfied Dent County clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Dent County, MO criminal case.

Dent County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is stressful in itself, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require a heightened caliber of legal acumen and dilligence. United States prosecuting attorneys are poised to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Department of Justice regularly brags that it has a conviction rate of roughly 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 all the stops 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 Dent County, MO criminal defense attorneys have vast and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving favorable results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Dent County, MO is not scared to face 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 protected many Dent County-area residents who were looking at all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is an unquestionably 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 Dent County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

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

• Motor Vehicle Tampering
• Assault and Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges and Possession

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Dent County, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer with our hard-working St. Louis-based law firm, you will always receive 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 a legal ally to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not put off speaking to a Dent County area criminal defense attorney to help you overcome your charges in Dent County, 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 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 get in touch with a Dent County, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

A criminal conviction, even for a low class misdemeanor could result in a fine to pay, 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 in the state prison system, and as a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges that so many of us take for granted. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are barred 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 applications for jobs, housing and other opportunities and resources, which often severely limits where you can work or live.

If you are already a felon or believe you are likely to be convicted, you are not without options. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be able to request a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Consult an experienced criminal defense attorney in Dent County, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Dent County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Dent County, Missouri

In Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are classified into categories based on the severity of the crime. Depending on what class felony you are convicted of, 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 outcome of your felony criminal case is influenced by a number of factors. If you receive a felony conviction, the precise punishment you are sentenced to will be up to the judge. They will weigh 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, meaning a crime typically classified as 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 certain crimes that are considered dangerous or crimes based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Conversely, with the representation and dedication of a talented Dent County criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B felony could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you 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 you have a strong case demonstrating your innocence but the prosecutor refuses 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 determine whether or not you are guilty. Contact our Dent County, 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 classified based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, 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 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. 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 Dent County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Dent County, 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 defense attorneys in the Dent County, MO area 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 Dent County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Dent 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 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 in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing increased penalties.

Many Dent County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Dent County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure 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 error. Best of all, our premier Dent County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Dent 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 fixing your Dent County traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Dent 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.

• Homicide Lawyer
• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
• Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer

Hire Your Dent County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Choosing the right Dent County, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time behind bars. In contrast to other Dent County defense attorneys, our firm places absolute satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you will receive anytime access to the Dent County criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter the circumstances, the place, or the hour, you can discuss with us your case, the legal process, or anything else.

When you are looking at criminal charges in Dent County, from a simple moving violation for an improper lane change to federal felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule 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 experienced Dent County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.