Criminal Attorney St. Louis
Criminal Attorney in St. Louis, Missouri. No matter why you’re in this situation, you have the same rights and privileges as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to doing everything possible to get the best possible results for all of our St. Louis clients. We have gotten favorable outcomes in criminal cases ranging from minor traffic offenses to serious felony charges. Whether you’re innocent, a situation was outside of your control, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you just made a poor decision, we will fight hard for you and aggressively enforce your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in St. Louis today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Anytime you’re facing a criminal charge, your greatest fear is losing your freedom and having to spend time in jail or prison. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration rates, and often the best way to avoid incarceration in St. Louis is with the aid of a knowledgeable and aggressive criminal attorney. We know that, regardless of the circumstances, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. We’ll work hard to get your charges reduced or dismissed and do everything possible to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Call a St. Louis criminal attorney today at (314) 900-HELP.
How a Criminal Attorney in St. Louis Can Help
There are reasons everyone has a right to effective legal counsel, and there are myriad ways an attorney can help your case:
Delay or Stop Charges From Being Filed
After an arrest a skilled criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in St. Louis, show them evidence that corroborates your side of the story, and stop the charges from being filed or reduce the severity of the charges.
Enforce Your Rights
When St. Louis law enforcement believes someone committed a crime, they’ll go to great lengths to obtain the evidence needed for a conviction. According to a 1969 Supreme Court Decision, police are even allowed to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will stand by your side and ensure law enforcement does not violate:
- Your Fourth Amendment right against illegal search and seizure
- Your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination
- Your Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer
Investigate Your Case
A criminal attorney in St. Louis will conduct a thorough investigation, equal to or exceeding that of law enforcement’s, in an effort to physical evidence and witnesses that are favorable to you. We’ll also examine how the evidence brought against you was gathered, and if there were any procedural errors or if there are holes in the state’s case.
Develop a Defense Strategy
Different cases are best defended in different ways, depending on the severity of the charges and the evidence the state is trying to use to convict you. In some cases, it may be best to accept a plea deal and/or negotiate with the prosecution to reduce the charges. We may be able to ask the judge for leniency because of mitigating circumstances. Other times we may be able to clear your name or, if the case goes to trial, convince a jury that there is not enough evidence to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt. Did you have a reliable alibi? Are witnesses unreliable? Is the evidence contaminated? Is there somebody else that may have committed the crime? We’ll do everything possible to persuade a jury they cannot ethically convict you based on the evidence.
Give You Sound Legal Advice
A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be honest with you about the likely outcomes of your case and the best-case scenario given the evidence and charges against you. We know everyone wants to be found “not guilty,” or have their charges dismissed. Still, sometimes it may make the most sense for you, your family and your freedom to choose another strategy. No matter what, we will recommend what we think is best for you and let you make the final decision.
Cases Our Criminal Attorney in St. Louis Takes
Your St. Louis criminal attorney has experience getting positive client outcomes in a variety of cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like murder and homicide. Some of the cases we see most often are:
- Violent Crimes
- Theft/Larceny
- DWI/DUI
- Drug Charges
- Probation Violation
- Child Abuse, Neglect or Abandonment
- Gun Charges
- Sex Crimes
- Juvenile Crimes
- Traffic Tickets
Whatever charges you’re facing in St. Louis, Combs Waterkotte is not here to pass judgment or reprimand you for poor decisions. We understand that situations get out of hand, or that often people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For empathetic, dedicated and aggressive legal representation, call a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.
Public Defender or a Private St. Louis, MO Criminal Attorney?
The option of a free public defender can be attractive, but most of the time you’ll be best served by hiring an aggressive and knowledgeable private criminal attorney in St. Louis like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, public defenders our overworked. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System found that St. Louis public defenders largely do not have enough time to provide an adequate defense. While there are great criminal attorneys in the public defense system, they are human and the realities of their job may mean they cannot devote as much time necessary to your case.
Another study found that prosecutors are more likely to offer a favorable deal to a defendant with a private criminal attorney than one who has a public defender. It also found that private criminal attorneys on average secure prison sentences five years shorter than public defenders, despite private attorneys generally taking on more serious cases.
Call a St. Louis, MO Criminal Attorney Today | Combs Waterkotte
When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a free, no-obligation consultation that’s free of any judgment or criticism, no matter what the nature of your charges. Our clients and their rights and freedom matter to us. You’ll have the cell phone number of the criminal attorney working on your case, and will always speak directly to them — not a paralegal. Whether you’re innocent of the charges or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll give you the dedicated, aggressive and compassionate legal representation you are entitled to. Call a St. Louis criminal attorney today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can start working for you.
