Criminal Defense Attorney in Christian County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Christian County, MO. If you have been arrested for a crime, you do not need to be told that the situation is a serious ordeal. Just a conviction for a small infraction could cause you to pay an expensive fine, serve time behind bars, or have to spend several years under probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only are you subject to several years locked up in the Missouri state prison system, but after your reentry into society you will no longer have additional rights or privileges that most citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are barred from owning guns, running in an election, or holding specific jobs. In addition, in many instances, you will be required to mark your status as a convicted felon on job or housing applications, which usually severely limits where they can live or work.

The skilled Christian County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many men and women rise above criminal convictions in the Christian County, MO area. Our firm gets that sometimes decent people can have a stroke of misfortune, and our criminal defense firm works to minimize the effect criminal charges have on your ability to live life. Our impressive history of winning is notable among Christian County criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the center of everything we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Christian County clients who have worked with Combs Waterkotte. Give us a call today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your Christian County, MO criminal case.

Christian County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is stressful enough, but criminal charges at the federal level require an extra level of legal intelligence and care. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Justice Department often brags that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will stop at nothing to get a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a federal prison, and carry a federal conviction on your record for the remainder of your life.

At Combs Waterkotte, our Christian County, MO criminal defense attorneys have vast and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving positive results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Christian County, MO is not scared to take on any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight tirelessly on our clients’ behalf. We have assisted many who have been accused of federal criminal acts in the Christian County area and helped them put what is a certainly troubling experience behind them. Read more about our expertise in federal criminal cases and what makes federal criminal cases different from state and municipal cases.

A Full-Service Christian County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The proficient Christian County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, including:

• 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 Christian County, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a lawyer from our capable and cunning St. Louis-based law firm, you can be confident that 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 very life hanging in the balance, it is imperative that you find someone you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not wait speaking to a criminal defense attorney to help you fight your charges in Christian County, MO or anywhere in Missouri. The quicker you get an attorney on your case, the sooner we can get to work building a defense strategy 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 speak to a criminal defense attorney in Christian County, MO about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

A conviction for even a minor infraction or misdemeanor can leave you with a sizable fine, time to serve in jail, 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 in the state prison system, and once you are labeled a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges that many people take for granted. As a convicted felon in Missouri, you are limited from purchasing or possessing firearms, voting in elections, running for office, or holding certain jobs. Also, in many cases, as a felon you are required to disclose your status as a convicted felon on job or rental applications, which often severely limits where you can work or live.

If you have already received a felony conviction or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, do not lose hope. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be eligible to request a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Christian County, MO to learn about how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Christian County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Christian County, Missouri

In Missouri, felony crimes are classified into categories based on the severity of the crime. Based on what class felony you are convicted of, 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 – no more than seven years in prison
• Class E Felony – a maximum of four years in prison

In the end, the outcome of your felony criminal case depends on a variety of variables. If you are convicted of a felony, the exact punishment you are sentenced to is determined by the judge. They will take into account information including the specific circumstances of the crime, your criminal history and other details.

There are some special crimes for which the class and subsequent punishment are enhanced, so a crime usually considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. The enhancement is applied for some defendants with prior convictions or in crimes that are determined to have been carried out due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Conversely, with the representation and dedication of a talented Christian County criminal defense attorney, your original Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser class felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able to get you a lesser punishment.

You may also be able to avoid a criminal conviction altogether, if you have the right circumstances and a diligent and skillful criminal defense attorney. If your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your Combs Waterkotte criminal defense lawyer will present your case meticulously to your peers in a jury trial, leaving the jury members to then determine whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our Christian County, MO felony defense attorneys today to discuss your case and your options and receive quality counsel and representation.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

As with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are classified based on severity. Unlike prison time and possible parole that comes with a felony, the maximum punishment allowed for a misdemeanor is a year in jail, and in many cases no jail time is required, but rather the payment of a fine.

• 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. You may also be required to meet additional requirements as a condition of your probation, 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 Christian County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Christian County, MO

Did you know that Combs Waterkotte can also help you resolve traffic tickets and other traffic law matters? Even if you have not been accused of committing a criminal act, our Christian County-based defense attorneys can help you through our expert traffic ticket legal 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.

Getting a traffic ticket in Christian County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Christian County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.

More and more Christian County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Christian County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our exceptional Christian County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Christian County, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Christian County traffic ticket.

In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Christian County, 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.

• Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
• Homicide Lawyer
• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
• Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer

Hire Your Christian County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Finding the right Christian County, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case ending favorably and you spending time incarcerated. Unlike other Christian County defense attorneys, our firm places complete satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you will get anytime access to the Christian County criminal defense lawyer that is working on your case. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you can discuss your case, the legal process, or any other topic.

When you have been indicted on criminal charges in Christian County, from a small moving violation for speeding to severe felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Talk to us 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 experienced Christian County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.