Criminal Defense Attorney Carthage, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Carthage, MO. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you know that the situation is to be taken seriously. Just a conviction for a minor crime could cause you to pay a hefty fine, serve time in county jail, or have to spend several years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only magnifies these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend several years in the Missouri state prisons, but after your release from prison you will no longer have additional privileges or rights that a large number of citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning guns, running for office, or holding certain jobs. In addition, in many cases, you will be required to share your status as a convicted felon on job or rent applications, which often severely limits where they can live or work.

The skilled Carthage, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many people overcome criminal convictions in the Carthage, MO area. Our firm recognizes that people with good intetions can have a stroke of misfortune, and our criminal defense firm works to minimize the effect a criminal conviction has on your reputation, life, and freedom. Our record of winning distinguishes us from other Carthage criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the center of everything we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Carthage clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Give us a call today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your Carthage, MO criminal case.

Carthage, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is a scary enough circumstance, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require a heightened level of legal knowledge and care. United States prosecuting attorneys are driven to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Justice Department often brags that it has a conviction rate of about 90 percent. The vast majority of those convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will use the full arsenal of resources at their disposal to induce a guilty plea, guarantee that you spend years in a federal prison, and resign you to live the rest of your life with a federal criminal conviction.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Carthage, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving favorable outcomes for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Carthage, MO is not scared to take on any opponent — be it local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight fiercely on our clients’ behalf. We have protected many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the Carthage area and helped them put what is an undoubtably harrowing experience in their rear-view mirror. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.

A Full-Service Carthage, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The proficient Carthage, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, like:

• Motor Vehicle Tampering
• Assault and Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges and Possession

The criminal defense attorneys of Combs Waterkotte based in Carthage, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer with our capable and cunning St. Louis-based law firm, you will always get quality customer service and a thoughtful defense strategy. Whether a misdemeanor or felony, your case and your future are important to us. You will always be able to reach and speak with the leading criminal defense attorney assigned to your case.

With your freedom and future at risk of being taken from you, you need a legal ally to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not procrastinate talking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your criminal charges at any level in the Missouri area. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can dedicate our time and effort toward building a sound approach to your case and allowing you to breathe you to breathe a little easier as we tackle the looming uncertainty of an impending criminal court proceeding. Call (314) 900-HELP now or reach us online to get in touch with a Carthage, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.

What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?

A criminal conviction for even a minor infraction or misdemeanor can leave you with a sizable fine, county jail time, and/or years of supervised probation. When the crime is a felony, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You could lose years of your life serving time encarcerated in state prisons, and as a convicted felon you lose lifelong rights that many people take for granted. Convicted felons are limited from purchasing or possessing firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or obtaining certain types of employment. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are required to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or rental applications, which is an obvious impairment to achieving a productive, fruitful life.

If you are already a felon or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, all hope is not lost. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and for certain cases you may be eligible to request a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Carthage, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Carthage, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Carthage, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are categorized into five classes that reflect the severity. Depending on the class of your felony conviction, the punishment will vary.

• Class A Felony – minimum of 10 years and no more than 30 years in prison, or life in prison
• Class B Felony – at least five but no more than 15 years in prison
• Class C Felony – between three and 10 years in prison
• Class D Felony – a maximum of seven years in prison
• Class E Felony – no more than four years in prison

Ultimately, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case is influenced by a number of factors. If you receive a felony conviction, the exact terms of your punishment will be decided by the judge. They will weigh factors such as the specific circumstances of the crime, your personal history and other details.

There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, meaning a crime usually considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied if you have prior convictions or for crimes that are determined to have been carried out due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. On the other hand, with the representation and dedication of a talented Carthage criminal defense attorney, what was originally a Class B felony could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony charge could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to obtain a less severe.

You may also be able to have the charged dropped completely, if you have the right circumstances and a diligent and skillful criminal defense attorney. If you have a strong case but the prosecutor refuses to drop the charges, your criminal defense lawyer with Combs Waterkotte will take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then determine whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our Carthage, MO felony defense attorneys today to discuss your case and your options and receive quality counsel and representation.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

Like with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are categorized based on severity. Unlike prison time and possible parole that comes with a felony, misdemeanors are punishable by no more than one year in county or city jail or may just involve fines.

• Class A Misdemeanor – up to one year in jail; a fine of up to $2,000
• Class B Misdemeanor – up to six months in jail; a fine of up to $1,000
• Class C Misdemeanor – up to 15 days in jail; a fine of up to $700
• Class D Misdemeanor – a fine of up to $500

Similar to felonies, sentencing for a misdemeanor can be enhanced based upon the circumstances or your criminal history. However, in misdemeanor cases your defense attorney can often help you avoid serving jail time in favor of a period of supervision known as probation. As conditions of your probation sentence, you may be required to fulfill additional requirements such as community service or competition of a substance abuse rehabilitation program.

Misdemeanors are not to be taken lightly, but are not as serious as felony convictions and a good criminal defense attorney can help you get an outcome that is minimally disruptive to your life and allows you to move forward in a positive light. Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP to discuss your case and your options with a defense attorney near Carthage, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Carthage, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have never been arrested for a crime, our Carthage-based defense attorneys can help you through our excellent traffic law services. Affordable and effective as attorneys against traffic tickets, do not let our record of success in difficult criminal cases intimidate you or dissuade you from hiring us for top traffic ticket legal representation.

Being given a traffic ticket in Carthage, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Carthage traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to stiffer penalties.

More and more Carthage drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Carthage traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our premier Carthage traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Carthage, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Carthage traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Carthage, MO area attorneys of Combs Waterkotte have the skill and expertise you need from your lawyer in any criminal or personal injury case. Learn more about the types of cases we win below.

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney

Hire Your Carthage, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Finding the right Carthage, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time in jail. In contrast to other Carthage defense attorneys, our firm places total client satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you will receive anytime access to the Carthage criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you can discuss with us your case, the legal process, or any other topic.

When you are looking at criminal charges in Carthage, from a simple traffic ticket for speeding to federal felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but preceding that we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the driven Carthage, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.