Criminal Defense Attorney in Morgan County, MO

Criminal Defense Attorney in Morgan County, MO. If you have been recently arrested and charged with a crime, you do not need to be told the grave nature of the charges that you are facing. Even being convicted of a small misdemeanor could cause you to pay an expensive fine, spend time behind bars, or have to spend multiple years on probation. Facing a felony conviction only heightens these consequences: not only are you subject to a number of years in the Missouri state prisons, but following your release from prison you will continue to pay through the loss of additional rights or privileges that a large number of citizens assume they will always have. Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms, running for office, or holding specific jobs. In addition, in many situations, you will be mandated to share your status as a convicted felon on rental or job applications, which usually severely curtails where they can live or work.

The skilled Morgan County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte have assisted many Morgan County-area residents fight criminal charges. Our firm gets that people with good intetions can have a stroke of misfortune, and our criminal defense lawyers work to minimize the detremental consequences criminal charges have on your freedom, reputation, and life. Our impressive history of winning distinguishes us from other Morgan County criminal defense law firms, and we place client satisfaction at the heart of all that we do — hear it firsthand from the satisfied Morgan 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-strings-attached review of your Morgan County, MO criminal case.

Morgan County, MO Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested is a scary enough situation, but when the charges against you are federal charges, they require an extra stage of legal knowledge and focus. Prosecutors for the United States courts are poised to win no matter the cost: the U.S. Department of Justice often boasts that it has a conviction rate of around 90 percent. The vast majority of those convictions result in plea bargains, where a defendant negotiates a lesser punishment or charge in exchange for a confession of guilt. Federal prosecutors will pull out all the stops to get a guilty plea, ensure 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 Morgan County, MO criminal defense attorneys have ample and proven experience in taking on federal criminal defense cases and achieving favorable results for our clients. Our team of federal criminal defense attorneys near Morgan County, MO is not afraid to square off against any opponent — whether they are local municipal prosecutors, the Missouri state prosecutor department or federal attorneys — and fight passionately on our clients’ behalf. We have stood up for many Morgan County-area residents who were looking at all manner of federal criminal charges defend themselves against these charges and put what is a certainly troubling 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 Morgan County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney

The skilled Morgan County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte defend all cases and criminal charges, such as:

• 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 Morgan 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-based law firm, you can rest assured 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 have one dedicated attorney on your case and you can reach our lawyers and paralegals any time.

With your very life at risk of being taken from you, you need a legal ally to advocate for you and fight on your behalf. Do not procrastinate talking to a Morgan County area criminal defense attorney to help you overcome 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 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 speak to a criminal defense attorney in Morgan County, MO about your criminal case.

Missouri Criminal Cases and Consequences

Any criminal conviction will have an impact on your life. 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 once you are labeled 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 living a successful, lawful life.

If you have already received a felony conviction or believe you are likely to be convicted, do not panic. Missouri law does allow for the restoration of certain rights and in some cases you may be able to seek a pardon, expungement, or the sealing of your record. Turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney in Morgan County, MO to learn about how to restore your rights after receiving a conviction. Contact us to find out what our Morgan County, MO defense attorneys can do to help you reclaim your rights.

Punishments for Felony Charges in Morgan County, Missouri

Under criminal law in Missouri, crimes that are considered felonies are categorized into five classes based on the severity of the crime. 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 variety of factors. If you receive a felony conviction, the exact punishment you are sentenced to will be determined by the judge. They will take into account 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, meaning a crime typically classified as 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 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 a competent and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Morgan County representing you, your original Class B charge could be dropped down to a lower class felony, a felony charge could be minimized to a misdemeanor or your criminal defense attorney may be able 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 your case for your innocence is sound but the prosecutor refuses to drop the charges, your Combs Waterkotte criminal defense lawyer will take the fight to trial where they will present your case to a jury of your peers who will then decide whether or not you are guilty. Contact Combs Waterkotte to discuss your case and potential options with our Morgan County, MO criminal defense attorneys.

Misdemeanor Charges in Missouri

As with felonies, misdemeanors in Missouri are categorized based on severity. Rather than time in state prison and possible parole supervision, 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

The classification of a misdemeanor can also be enhanced in certain cases. 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 Morgan County, MO now.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Morgan 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 Morgan County, MO area can help you through our expert 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 written a traffic ticket in Morgan County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Morgan 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 facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed 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 facing increased penalties.

More and more Morgan County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Morgan County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch Morgan County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Morgan 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 start the process of getting your Morgan County traffic ticket fixed.

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

• 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 Morgan County, MO Criminal Defense Attorney Now | Combs Waterkotte

Choosing the right Morgan County, MO lawyer can be the difference between your case being ended favorably and you spending time in jail. In contrast to other Morgan County defense attorneys, our firm places complete satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be confident that you will get round-the-clock access to the Morgan County 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 any other topic.

When you are facing criminal charges in Morgan County, from a small moving violation for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, call Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation, but before you call we suggest that you take a look at what some of our previous clients have said about their experiences working with the experienced Morgan County, MO criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte.