St. Charles Criminal Defense Attorneys

Being charged with a crime can be truly stressful. You have to sort out difficult legal matters while being plagued with concerns about your future. This is a situation where the right attorney is truly indispensable, and you can find that attorney at Shea Kohl Law, LC.

Potential Consequences Of A Criminal Conviction

What penalties are there for someone who is convicted of a crime in Missouri? The answer depends on the classification of the crime – is it a misdemeanor or a felony?

Misdemeanors are the less serious types of crime. Missouri further categorizes misdemeanors into various classes of severity, which have corresponding punishments (as of the 2017 updated Missouri Criminal Code):

• Class A misdemeanors – up to one year in prison, and a fine of up to $2,000
• Class B misdemeanors – prison up to six months, and a fine of up to $1,000
• Class C misdemeanors – up to 15 days in prison, and a fine of up to $700
• Class D misdemeanors – a fine of up to $500.

There are also unclassified misdemeanors, whose definition and penalties are based on other specific state laws.

On the other hand, felonies are the most serious classification of crime. There are also five classes of felonies in Missouri:

• Class A felonies – a prison term lasting from 10 to 30 years, or life imprisonment
• Class B felonies – a prison term lasting from 5 to 15 years
• Class C felonies – a prison term of 3 to 10 years
• Class D felonies – a prison term of up to seven years
• Class E felonies – a prison term of up to four years

Aside from prison terms and fines, common penalties in a criminal conviction include probation time, suspension of privileges such as a driver’s license, and court-imposed treatments such as for substance abuse and anger issues.

Finding The Right Lawyer Is Crucial

Harsh criminal penalties threaten your money, time, and freedom. You need a lawyer who can handle your case. So, what should you look for in a criminal defense attorney?

Over our decades of legal service, we’ve seen two qualities that clients really need from a criminal defense lawyer: honesty and experience.

Your lawyer should be honest and candid to you, both about his or her capability and also about your legal situation. It is important that your lawyer advise you on the real risks you are facing, what your actual options are, and what kind of results the lawyer can realistically achieve for you. Don’t hesitate to seek out a second opinion when trying to get a good grasp of your case.

It is also vital that your attorney has ample experience in criminal defense. In this field of law, nothing replaces a lawyer’s first-hand case experience in gaining important advantages: learning creative ways to navigate the law, foreseeing potential outcomes, and even knowing the particular tendencies of each judge and prosecutor. See if your potential lawyer has handled criminal cases in Missouri courts, and what results he or she has achieved.

What Shea Kohl Law Can Do For You

As a law firm based in St. Charles, MO, we at Shea Kohl Law always commit our real-world honesty and decades-long experience to each criminal case we handle. Here’s what you can expect from us:

• Candid appraisal of your case, and the corresponding practical solutions
• Extensive legal knowledge and trial experience resulting from a combined 90+ years of legal service
• Consistent communication and accessibility throughout your case.

Our attorneys are highly rated by authorities in the legal profession, such as the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review system. Beyond that, we have achieved positive results for our clients, including one of the Top Defense Verdicts in Missouri in 2006.

We can competently serve you if you are facing any criminal offense or concern such as:

• Arson
• Assault
• Burglary
• A criminal appeal
• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI)
• Drug charges
• Forgery
• Manslaughter
• Murder
• Rape
• Robbery
• Sex crimes
• Theft/Stealing.

Whether your case is at the municipal, state, or federal level, we at Shea Kohl Law can help protect your rights and freedom, obtaining the most favorable outcome possible.

Contact Us

Don’t hesitate to talk to us for a completely free and confidential consultation. Call Shea Kohl Law today at (636) 946-9999.