St. Francois County, MO

Posted by Emily Herr on June 14, 2022

Criminal Attorney St. Francois County, MO

Criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO. No matter how you got here, you have rights that are guaranteed by our constitution. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is devoted to aggressively and relentlessly working with the judicial system to secure the most favorable results for those in need of criminal defense in St. Francois County, MO. We take on criminal cases ranging from credit card fraud to serious felony. Whether you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit, a situation was outside of your control or you just made a mistake, we will fight hard for you and passionately protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-risk case evaluation.

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Anytime you’re facing a criminal charge, the worst-case scenario is having your freedom put in jeopardy. The United States has has two million people in prisons or jails. The best way to stay out of jail or prison in St. Francois County, MO is with the aid of a knowledgeable and aggressive criminal attorney. We know that, however you got here, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. We’ll work hard to get your charges reduced or thrown out and negotiate with a prosecutor and judge or defend you in trial to avoid incarceration. Get in touch with a criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

St. Francois County Resources

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

What a Criminal Attorney in St. Francois County, MO Can Do For You

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 an arrest, a criminal attorney can talk to a prosecutor or district attorney in St. Francois County, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and stop the charges from being filed or charge you with a less serious crime.

Defend Your Rights

When St. Francois County, MO law enforcement believes they’ve apprehended an offender, they’ll go to great lengths to acquire 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 stand by your side and ensure law enforcement does not breach:

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. Francois County, MO will perform a meticulous investigation, often more detailed than that of the prosecution, so that we can discover 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 acquired, and if there were any procedural errors or if the state’s case does not add up.

Develop a Defense Strategy

Depending on the quality and amount of evidence the state has, we’ll work with you to develop the best defense strategy. In some cases, we may advise to accept a plea deal. We may recommend writing a petition to the judge for a more lenient sentence because of special factors in your life and in the case. In other cases it might be possible to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if the case goes to trial, persuade a jury that the standard beyond a reasonable doubt has not been met. Did you have a reliable alibi? Was important evidence contaminated? Is there evidence suggesting someone else is guilty for the crime? We’ll look into every detail of your case to persuade a jury they cannot ethically convict with what was presented in court.

Give You Reliable Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be open 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 the realistic most favorable option can be accepting some of the charges. 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. Francois County, MO Takes

Your St. Francois County, MO criminal attorney has experience defending our clients’ rights in numerous cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like murder. We have gotten great results for our clients facing the following charges:

Whatever the nature of what you’re accused of in St. Francois County, MO, Combs Waterkotte knows that it does not define your character. We understand that nobody’s perfect all the time, or we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For sympathetic, devoted and aggressive legal representation, reach out to a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private St. Francois County, MO, MO Criminal Attorney?

It can be tempting to use a public defender at no cost, but usually you’ll be best served by enlisting the services of a private St. Francois County, MO criminal attorney like those at Combs Waterkotte. For starters, public defenders our overworked. A 2014 Study of the Missouri Public Defender System reported that St. Francois County, MO public defenders have two to three times the workload they should in order to provide an adequate defense. While there are excellent criminal attorneys in the public defense system, they are human and their high case loads may prevent them from devoting as much time necessary to your case.

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 the average prison term is five years shorter with a private criminal attorney, despite private attorneys usually taking on more serious cases.

Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in St. Francois County, MO:

Criminal Attorney St. Francois County, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near St. Francois County

Call a Criminal Attorney in St. Francois County, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk consultation that’s free of any disapproval, regardless of the nature of your charges. Our clients and their rights matter to us. You’ll always speak directly to the attorney handling your case — not a paralegal. Whether you did nothing wrong or did something you regret, we’ll give you the devoted, relentless and empathetic legal representation you are entitled to. Call criminal attorney in St. Francois County, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can get to work on your case today.