St. Louis, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney St. Louis, MO

Criminal attorney in St. Louis, MO. Regardless of the severity of the charges brought against you, you have the same privileges as everyone else in the United States. The criminal attorney defense team at Combs Waterkotte is devoted to aggressively and relentlessly working with the judicial system to get the most favorable results for all of our St. Louis, MO clients. We work on all levels of criminal cases from misdemeanor offenses to serious felony. Whether you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or you just made a mistake, we will fight hard for you and effectively protect your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in St. Louis, 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, your number one fear is having your freedom put at risk. The United States has has two million people in prisons or jails. The best way to retain your freedom in St. Louis, MO is with the dedicated representation of a knowledgeable and compassionate criminal attorney. We know that, however you got here, the prospect of severe sentences and penalties is weighing heavily on you. We’ll work hard to get your charges lowered or dismissed and negotiate with a prosecutor and judge or defend you in trial to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Contact a criminal attorney in St. Louis, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

St. Louis City Resources

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

How a Criminal Attorney in St. Louis, 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 Formal Charges

After an arrest, a knowledgeable criminal attorney can often meet with a prosecutor or district attorney in St. Louis, MO, show them evidence that corroborates your side of the story, and stop the charges from being filed or charge you with a less serious crime.

Protect Your Rights

When St. Louis, MO law enforcement believes they have made a legitimate arrest, there are many things they can do to acquire the evidence needed for a conviction. According to a Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
, testimony obtained in deceitful interrogations is still valid. A criminal attorney will be with you every step of the way and verify law enforcement abides by:

Your Fourth Amendment right against illegal search and seizure
Your Fifth Amendment right to due process
Your Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer

Investigate Your Case

A criminal attorney in St. Louis, MO will carry out an aggressive and methodical investigation, equal to or exceeding that of police, in an effort to discover 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 any of your rights were violated or if the state’s case does not add up.

Develop a Defense Strategy

Depending on the quality and amount of evidence against you, we’ll work with you to develop the best defense strategy. In some cases, we may advise to negotiate with the prosecution to reduce the charges. We may be able to ask the judge for a lighter sentence 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 important evidence contaminated? Is there another legitimate suspect? We’ll do everything possible to persuade a jury they cannot morally return a guilty verdict you based on the evidence.

Give You Dependable Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be open 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 it may make the most sense for you, your family and your freedom to choose another strategy. No matter what, we’ll be by your side and defend you how based on the decision you make for yourself.

Cases Our Criminal Attorney in St. Louis, MO Takes

Your St. Louis, MO criminal attorney has experience getting positive client outcomes in many different cases, from unclassified misdemeanors to Class A felonies like murder. Some of the charges we see most often are:

Whatever charges you’re facing in St. Louis, MO, 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 sympathetic, devoted and tenacious legal representation, get in touch with a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private St. Louis, 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 enlisting the services of a private St. Louis, 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 stated that St. Louis, MO public defenders often do not even have half the amount of time necessary to come up with a quality 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 found that private criminal attorneys on average secure prison sentences five years shorter than public defenders, despite private attorneys usually taking on more serious cases.

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

Criminal Attorney St. Louis, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near St. Louis

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

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-obligation consultation with no disapproval, no matter what your level of guilt and the evidence against you. 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’re innocent of the charges or did something you regret, we’ll fight hard to get the best outcome in your case. Call criminal attorney in St. Louis, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online so we can start working for you.