Smithville, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney Smithville, MO

Criminal attorney in Smithville, MO. No matter why you’re in this situation, you have the same privileges as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is committed to pursuing every legal option to get the best possible results for all of our Smithville, MO clients. We take on all severities of criminal cases from misdemeanor offenses to being charges with the death of another. Whether you’re accused of something you didn’t do, you got caught up in something you had nothing to do with or you simply did something you now regret, we will fight persistently for you and passionately enforce your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in Smithville, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation case review.

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Anytime you’re facing a criminal charge, your greatest fear is having your freedom put in jeopardy. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration rates. The best way to retain your freedom in Smithville, MO is with the aid of an accomplished and passionate criminal attorney. We know that, whatever reason you are in this situation, you are likely apprehensive about how these charges may alter your life. Let us fight for you and get your charges reduced or thrown out and negotiate with a prosecutor and judge or defend you in trial to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Get in touch with a criminal attorney in Smithville, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Platte County Resources

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

How a Criminal Attorney in Smithville, MO Can Help

There are reasons everyone has a right to effective legal representation, and there are various ways a criminal attorney can help your case:

Delay or Stop Charges From Being Filed

After you’ve been detained, a criminal attorney can talk to a prosecutor or district attorney in Smithville, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and stop the charges from being filed or only bring lesser charges.

Defend Your Rights

When Smithville, MO law enforcement believes someone committed a crime, they’ll go to great lengths to obtain the evidence needed for a conviction. According to a Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
, police are even allowed to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will be with you every step of the way and make sure that law enforcement does not breach:

Your Fourth Amendment right against searches with probable cause
Your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination
Your Sixth Amendment right to legal representation

Conduct an Investigation

A criminal attorney in Smithville, MO will conduct a meticulous investigation, often more in-depth than 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 against you, different defense strategies might be applied. 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. Other times it might be possible to clear your name or, if the case goes to trial, persuade 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 convict with what was presented in court.

Give You Sound Legal Advice

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be truthful 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 the realistic most favorable option can be accepting some of the charges. No matter what, the choice of how to approach your defense is in your hands.

Cases Our Criminal Attorney in Smithville, MO Takes

Your Smithville, MO criminal attorney has experience reducing, dismissing, and winning acquittals in many different cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like homicide. Some of the charges we see most often are:

Whatever the nature of what you’re accused of in Smithville, MO, Combs Waterkotte will be compassionate and give you the representation you have a right to. We understand that situations get out of hand, or that often people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For sympathetic, devoted and aggressive legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP.

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

The option of a free public defender can be attractive, but the truth is you’ll have a better chance of success by hiring a private Smithville, 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 reported that Smithville, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to come up with a good defense. While there are great public defenders, they are human and their high case loads may prevent 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 stated that incarceration is, on average, five years less with a private attorney, despite private attorneys generally taking on more serious cases.

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

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

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

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk case evaluation with no disapproval, no matter what the nature of your charges. Our clients and their freedom matter to us. You’ll always have access to communication directly with the attorney assigned to your case. Whether you didn’t do what you were accused of or the evidence is stacked against you, we’ll give you the committed, aggressive and compassionate legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in Smithville, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can start working for you.