West Plains, MO

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Attorney West Plains, MO

Criminal attorney in West Plains, MO. Regardless of 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 devoted to pursuing every legal option to secure the best possible results for those in need of criminal defense in West Plains, MO. We work on criminal cases ranging from petty offenses to being charges with the death of another. Whether you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit, a situation was outside of your control or you simply made a poor decision, we will fight hard for you and passionately defend your rights and freedom. Call a criminal attorney in West Plains, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation consultation.

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Anytime you’re dealing with the prospect of a criminal charge, your number one fear is having your freedom put in jeopardy. The United States has has two million inmates. The best way to stay out of jail or prison in West Plains, MO is with the help of a knowledgeable and passionate criminal attorney. We understand that, whatever reason you are in this situation, facing criminal charges is a situation nobody wants to be in. Let us use our knowledge and skills to get your charges lowered or dismissed and do everything possible to avoid a jail or prison sentence. Get in touch with a criminal attorney in West Plains, MO today at (314) 900-HELP.

Howell County Resources

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

What a Criminal Attorney in West Plains, 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 you’ve been detained, a criminal attorney can talk to a prosecutor or district attorney in West Plains, MO, explain how their evidence is lacking, and stop the charges from being filed or reduce the severity of the charges.

Protect Your Rights

When West Plains, MO law enforcement believes someone committed a crime, 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)
, police are even allowed to lie during interrogations. A criminal attorney will stand by your side and make sure that law enforcement respects:

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 West Plains, MO will conduct a thorough investigation, equal to or eclipsing that of police, so that we can discover physical evidence and witnesses that are beneficial to your case. We’ll also examine how the evidence brought against you was acquired, and 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 the state has, we’ll work with you to develop the best defense strategy. In some cases, we may advise to work with the court to mitigate the sentencing. We may request leniency because of mitigating circumstances. In other cases it might be possible to present evidence demonstrating your innocence or, if the case goes to trial, persuade a jury that there is not enough evidence to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt. Did you have a reliable alibi? Was key evidence contaminated? Is there somebody else that may have committed the crime? We’ll do everything possible to persuade a jury they cannot ethically return a guilty verdict you based on the evidence.

Provide You With Honest Legal Counsel

A Combs Waterkotte criminal attorney will be truthful with you about the odds of success for different defense strategies. We understand you’d like to be acquitted. Still, sometimes that may be the best decision to make. 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 West Plains, MO Takes

Your West Plains, MO criminal attorney has experience getting positive client outcomes in a variety of cases, from minor infractions to the most serious charges like homicide. Some of the cases we see most often are:

Whatever the nature of what you’re accused of in West Plains, 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 we can become involved in situations outside of our control. For sympathetic, devoted and expert legal representation, call a criminal attorney at Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP.

Public Defender or a Private West Plains, 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 West Plains, 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 West Plains, MO public defenders largely do not have enough time to provide an adequate defense. While there are qualified and meticulous public defenders, they are human and their high case loads may mean they cannot devote the best defense possible.

Another study found that prosecutors are more likely to offer a favorable deal to a defendant with a private criminal attorney than one who has a public defender. It also stated that prison sentences is, on average, five years less with a private attorney, despite private attorneys often taking on more serious charges.

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

Criminal Attorney West Plains, MO | Criminal Justice | Criminal Defense Lawyers Near West Plains

Call a Criminal Attorney in West Plains, MO Today | Combs Waterkotte

When you call us, one of our criminal attorneys will give you a no-risk case evaluation with no judgment, regardless of your level of innocence and the evidence against you. We genuinely 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 fight hard to get the best outcome in your case. Call criminal attorney in West Plains, MO today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.