Richmond, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney Richmond, MO

Criminal attorney in Richmond, MO. Regardless of how you got here, you have the same rights as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is devoted to doing everything possible to secure the best possible results for all of our Richmond, MO clients. We handle all severities of criminal cases from minor traffic offenses to Class A felonies. Whether you’re innocent, you got caught up in something you had nothing to do with or you just made a mistake, we will fight persistently for you and passionately protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Richmond, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-risk case review.

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Anytime you’re dealing with the prospect of a criminal charge, the worst-case scenario is losing your freedom and being incarcerated. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration rates. The best way to avoid incarceration in Richmond, MO is with the help of a knowledgeable and compassionate criminal attorney. We understand that, regardless of the circumstances, the prospect of the consequences of these charges is weighing heavily on you. We’ll work hard to get your charges reduced or dismissed and do everything possible to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Call a criminal attorney in Richmond, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Ray County Resources

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

What a Criminal Attorney in Richmond, MO Can Do For You

Criminal attorneys know the judicial 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 Formal Charges

After you’ve been detained, a skilled criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in Richmond, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and persuade them to drop the charges or only bring lesser charges.

Defend Your Rights

When Richmond, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, they’ll go to great lengths to obtain the evidence needed to bring formal charges. According to a 1969 Supreme Court Decision, a “confession” obtained in deceitful interrogations is still valid. A criminal attorney will let you know what to say and what not to say and verify law enforcement abides by:

Your Fourth Amendment right against searches with probable cause
Your Fifth Amendment right to due process
Your Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer

Investigate Your Case

A criminal attorney in Richmond, MO will conduct a rigorous investigation, often more in-depth than that of police, 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 be critical of the state’s investigation, and see if there were any procedural errors or if the state’s evidence is unlikely to be enough for a conviction.

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 using. In some cases, it may be best to work with the prosecution to make the sentencing less severe. We may be able to ask the judge for leniency because of special factors in your life and in the case. In other cases it might be possible to clear your name or, if the case goes to trial, persuade a jury that the standard beyond a reasonable doubt has not been met. Are witnesses unreliable? Is the evidence contaminated? Is there somebody else that may have committed the crime? We’ll look into every detail of your case to persuade a jury they cannot morally convict with what was presented in court.

Provide You With Reliable Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be forthright 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. However, sometimes it may make the most sense for you, your family and your freedom to choose another strategy. No matter what, the choice of how to approach your defense is in your hands.

Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Richmond, MO Takes

Your Richmond, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in numerous cases, from traffic violations to Class A felonies like homicide. Some of the cases we see most often are:

Whatever the nature of what you’re accused of in Richmond, MO, Combs Waterkotte will remain non-judgmental and give you the representation you have a right to. We understand that nobody’s perfect all the time, or we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For empathetic, dedicated and expert legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private Richmond, MO, 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 a private Richmond, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, a public defender may not be able to devote as much time to you case as necessary. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System found that Richmond, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to provide an adequate defense. While there are great criminal attorneys in the public defense system, they are human and their high case loads may mean they cannot devote as much time necessary to your case.

Another study found that the state is 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 the average prison term is five years shorter with a private criminal attorney, despite private attorneys often taking on more serious cases.

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

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

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

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a free case review with no 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 always speak directly to the attorney handling your case — not a paralegal. Whether you did nothing wrong or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll fight hard to get the best outcome in your case. Call criminal attorney in Richmond, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.