Hazelwood, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney Hazelwood, MO

Criminal attorney in Hazelwood, MO. No matter why you’re in this situation, you have the same rights as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is devoted to pursuing every legal option to get the best possible results for all of our Hazelwood, MO clients. We work on criminal cases ranging from credit card fraud to Class A felonies. Whether you’re innocent, you got caught up in something you had nothing to do with or you simply did something you now regret, we will fight tenaciously for you and passionately protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Hazelwood, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

About Us

Victories

Client Testimonials

Anytime you’re facing a criminal charge, the first thing on your mind is losing your freedom and being incarcerated. The United States has more inmates per capita than any other country. The best way to avoid incarceration in Hazelwood, MO is with the aid of an accomplished and compassionate criminal attorney. We know that, regardless of the circumstances, the prospect of severe sentences and penalties is weighing heavily on you. Let us use our knowledge and abilities to get your charges lowered or thrown out and do everything possible to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Contact a criminal attorney in Hazelwood, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

St. Louis County Resources

Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.

How a Criminal Attorney in Hazelwood, MO Can Help

Criminal attorneys know the legal system, the laws that guide them, how to talk to a prosecutor and how to defend you in front of a jury. Some of what we can help with are:

Delay or Stop Charges From Being Filed

After an arrest, a knowledgeable criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in Hazelwood, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and persuade them to drop the charges or charge you with a less serious crime.

Enforce Your Rights

When Hazelwood, MO law enforcement believes someone committed a crime, there are many things they can do 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 let you know what to say and what not to say and verify law enforcement does not breach:

Your Fourth Amendment right against searches with probable cause
Your Fifth Amendment right to a fair trial
Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation

Carry Out an Investigation

A criminal attorney in Hazelwood, MO will perform an exhaustive investigation, equal to or surpassing that of law enforcement’s, so that we can find physical evidence and witnesses that will help get your charges reduced, dismissed, or help secure a not guilty verdict. We’ll also examine how the evidence brought against you was obtained, and if there were any procedural errors or if the state’s evidence is unlikely to be enough for a conviction.

Develop a Defense Strategy

Depending on the quality and amount of evidence the state has, different defense strategies might be applied. In some cases, we may recommend to work with the prosecution to mitigate the sentencing. We may request character references from neighbors and family arguing that you should receive a more lenient sentence because of mitigating circumstances. Other times it might be possible to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if the case goes to trial, convince a jury that the burden of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt has not been met. Are witnesses unreliable? Was much of evidence contaminated? Is there another legitimate suspect? We’ll explore every option to persuade a jury they cannot ethically return a guilty verdict with what was presented in court.

Give You Sound Legal Advice

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be straightforward with you about the odds of success for different defense strategies. We know everyone wants to be found “not guilty,” or have their charges dismissed. However, sometimes that may be the best decision to make. No matter what, the choice of how to approach your defense is in your hands.

Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Hazelwood, MO Takes

Your Hazelwood, MO criminal attorney has experience defending our clients’ rights in a variety of cases, from traffic violations to Class A felonies like homicide. Some of the charges we see most often are:

Whatever alleged crime occurred in Hazelwood, MO, Combs Waterkotte will remain non-judgmental and give you the representation you have a right to. We understand that situations get out of hand, or we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For empathetic, dedicated and expert legal representation, get in touch with a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private Hazelwood, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?

It can be tempting to use a public defender at no cost, but the truth is you’ll have a better chance of success by hiring a private Hazelwood, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, public defenders often have enormous case loads. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System reported that Hazelwood, MO public defenders largely do not have enough time to come up with a quality defense. While there are qualified and diligent criminal attorneys in the public defense system, they are human and their high case loads may keep them from devoting the best defense possible.

Another study found that prosecutors offer better deals when a private defense attorney is involved in order to avoid a lengthy trial. 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 charges.

Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in Hazelwood, MO:

Criminal Attorney Hazelwood, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near Hazelwood

Call a Criminal Attorney in Hazelwood, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk case evaluation that’s free of any criticism, no matter what the nature of your charges. We sincerely care about all of our clients and about getting them the best result. You’ll have the cell phone number of the criminal attorney working on your case. Whether you didn’t do what you were accused of or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll give you the devoted, tenacious and passionate legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in Hazelwood, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.