Criminal Defense Attorney in Clarkson Valley, MO
Criminal Defense Attorney in Clarkson Valley, MO. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you do not need to be told the weight of the charges that you are looking at. Just a conviction for a small crime could cause you to pay an expensive fine, serve time behind bars, or have to spend multiple years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only increases these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend a number of years in the Missouri state prison system, but after your reentry into society you will no longer be entitled to certain privileges or rights that most citizens take for granted. Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms, running in an election, or holding certain occupations. In addition, in many instances, you could be mandated to admit your status as a convicted felon on job or rent applications, which usually drastically curtails where they can live or work.
The skilled Clarkson Valley, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many Clarkson Valley-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm recognizes that people with good intetions can get caught up in bad situations, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the damage criminal charges have on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of success is notable among Clarkson Valley criminal defense law firms, and we pride ourselves on the special focus we place on our personalized touch and availability to our clients — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Clarkson Valley clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Clarkson Valley, MO criminal case.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
Clarkson Valley, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
An allegation of any crime is a scary enough proposition, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require an extra caliber of legal acumen and care. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win at all costs: the U.S. Justice Department often boasts that it has a conviction rate of roughly 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for an admission of guilt. Federal prosecutors will stop at nothing to get a guilty plea, make sure that you spend years in a Bureau of Prisons facility, and resign you to live the rest of your life with a federal criminal conviction.
At Combs Waterkotte, our Clarkson Valley, MO criminal defense attorneys have vast and documented experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving favorable results for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near Clarkson Valley, MO is not afraid to take on any opponent — be it local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight tirelessly on our clients’ behalf. We have fought for many Clarkson Valley-area residents who were facing all sorts of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and 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 Clarkson Valley, MO Criminal Defense Attorney
The proficient Clarkson Valley, 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 Clarkson Valley, 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 personalized care and dedicated representation. Whether a misdemeanor or felony, we treat your case, and your life, with the utmost care. 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, it is imperative that you find a legal ally to advocate for you and defend your freedome. Do not wait reaching out 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 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 Clarkson Valley, MO criminal defense attorney about your criminal case.
Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences
A criminal conviction for even a low class misdemeanor could result in a fine to pay, time to serve in jail, and/or years of supervised probation. When the crime is a felony, a conviction can have a much more significant impact on your life. You could lose years of your life serving time encarcerated in state prisons, and as 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 forced 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 are already a felon 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 for certain cases you may be able to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Clarkson Valley, MO to learn about your post-conviction rights and options. Contact us to learn how our Clarkson Valley, MO defense attorneys can help you reclaim your rights.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
Felony Charges and Punishments in Clarkson Valley, Missouri
Under criminal law in Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies 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 – no more than four years in prison
In the end, the conviction and sentence in your felony criminal case depends on a variety of factors. If you receive a felony conviction, the precise punishment you are sentenced to is up to the judge. They will weigh information including the specific circumstances of the crime, your personal history and other details.
However, there are exceptions to the guidelines above. The classification of some crimes may be enhanced, so what is usually classified as a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. This can happen if you have prior convictions or in crimes that are determined to have been carried out based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Conversely, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Clarkson Valley representing you, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lower class felony, a felony charge could be dropped down to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to obtain a less severe.
In some cases with the right circumstances and the skill of an experienced defense attorney, you can have the charges dropped entirely. If your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor is not willing 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 Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Clarkson Valley, MO criminal defense attorneys.
Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri
As with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are classified based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, 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, you can often avoid jail time for misdemeanors and instead agree to 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 Clarkson Valley, MO now.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Clarkson Valley, 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 defense attorneys in the Clarkson Valley, MO area 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.
Getting a traffic ticket in Clarkson Valley, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Clarkson Valley 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 looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to increased penalties.
More and more Clarkson Valley drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Clarkson Valley traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our exceptional Clarkson Valley traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Clarkson Valley, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Clarkson Valley traffic ticket fixed.
In addition to criminal defense law for Missouri state felonies and misdemeanors, federal crimes and traffic tickets, the leading Clarkson Valley, 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.
- Gun Crime Lawyer
- 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
Hire Your Clarkson Valley, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte
Finding the right Clarkson Valley, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time incarcerated. In contrast to other Clarkson Valley 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 receive 24/7 access to the Clarkson Valley criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter what time it or where you are, you can talk to us about your case, the legal process, or anything else.
When you are looking at criminal charges in Clarkson Valley, from a simple moving violation for an improper lane change to serious felonies, make Combs Waterkotte your first call. Talk to us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, but before that we ask you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the skilled Clarkson Valley, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.