Criminal Defense Attorney Mississippi County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Mississippi County, MO. If you have been arrested for a crime, you know the weight of the charges that you are looking at. Even a conviction for a minor infraction could force you to pay a sizable fine, serve time behind bars, or have to spend several years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only magnifies these consequences: not only will you likely have to spend multiple years locked up in the Missouri state prisons. And even following your reentry into society you will continue to pay through the loss of additional privileges or rights that most citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning guns, running in an election, or holding specific occupations. Also, in many instances, you could be required to mark your status as a convicted felon on job or housing applications, which usually severely curtails where they can live or work.

The skilled Mississippi County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have helped many people rise above criminal allegations in the Mississippi County, 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 detremental consequences criminal charges have on your life, freedom, and reputation. Our impressive history of winning cases distinguishes us from other Mississippi County criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the center of everything we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Mississippi County clients who have contacted Combs Waterkotte. Talk to us today at (314) 900-HELP, or contact us online, for a free, no-strings-attached review of your Mississippi County, MO criminal case.

Mississippi County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing a criminal charge is stressful enough, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require a heightened amount of legal knowledge and dilligence. Prosecutors for the United States courts are driven to win at all costs: the U.S. Department of Justice regularly boasts that it has a conviction rate of about 90 percent. Overwhelmingly, these convictions are plea bargains, where a defendant accepts a lesser charge or punishment in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will use the full arsenal of resources at their disposal to induce a guilty plea, ensure 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 Mississippi County, MO criminal defense attorneys have vast and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and getting positive results for our clients. Our firm of federal criminal defense attorneys near Mississippi County, MO is not afraid to face off against any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight fiercely on our clients’ behalf. We have fought for many Mississippi County-area residents who were looking at all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is a certainly 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 Mississippi County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The skilled Mississippi 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 Mississippi County, Missouri have been successfully defending the rights of the accused for years. When you hire a criminal defense attorney from our capable and cunning St. Louis criminal defense firm, you will always receive 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 very life on the line, it is imperative that you find a legal ally you can trust and rely upon to advocate for you and defend your rights. Do not procrastinate speaking 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 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 talk to a criminal defense attorney in Mississippi County, MO about your criminal case.

What are the punishments for criminal charges in Missouri?

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. When the crime is a felony, the outcome of a conviction can be much more dire. You may be sentenced to years in the state prison system, and once you are labeled a convicted felon you will no longer have certain rights or privileges that so many of us 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 have already received a felony conviction or suspect that the likelihood of a conviction is high, do not panic. 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 an experienced criminal defense attorney in Mississippi County, MO to explore how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Mississippi County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Mississippi County, Missouri

Under criminal law in Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are categorized into five classes based on 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

In the end, the outcome of your felony criminal case depends on a variety of factors. If you receive a felony conviction, the exact punishment you are sentenced to will be up to the judge. The judge in your case will take into account information including the situation surrounding 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 considered a Class D felony in Missouri can be raised to a Class C, etc. This can happen for some defendants with prior convictions or for certain crimes that are considered dangerous or crimes due to a victim’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, sex or disability. Likewise, with a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Mississippi County representing you, what was originally a Class B charge could be reduced to a lesser felony, a felony could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney could argue to obtain a lesser punishment.

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 demonstrating your innocence but the prosecutor is not willing to drop the charges, your criminal defense lawyer with Combs Waterkotte will present your case meticulously to your peers in a jury trial, leaving the jury members to then decide whether or not to find you guilty. Contact our Mississippi 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 grouped into categories 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

The classification of a misdemeanor can also 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 Mississippi County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Mississippi County, 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 Mississippi County, MO area 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.

Being given a traffic ticket in Mississippi County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Mississippi County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing harsher penalties.

A growing number of Mississippi County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Mississippi County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down 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 not following proper procedure. Best of all, our exceptional Mississippi County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Mississippi County, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Mississippi County traffic ticket.

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

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

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

Selecting the right Mississippi County, MO lawyer can make the difference between your case having a positive outcome and you spending time in jail. In contrast to other Mississippi 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 Mississippi County criminal defense lawyer working on your case. No matter the circumstances, the place, or the hour, you can discuss your case, the legal process, or any other topic.

When you have been indicted on criminal charges in Mississippi County, from a small moving violation for speeding to serious felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before that we invite you to take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their time working with the skilled Mississippi County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.