Criminal Law

If you are arrested or charged with a crime, it is important that you know your rights. If you are taken in for questioning, or interrogated by the police, you should request an attorney. Even if you did nothing wrong and are innocent of the crime being investigated, you should have an attorney present to make sure your rights are protected.

Do Not Speak with Anyone without Consulting an Attorney. Innocent people do go to jail. Always remember that police and investigators are out to solve a crime. If they believe you are a potential suspect, they may attempt to obtain incriminating evidence from you. Anything you say WILL BE used against you. An experienced criminal defense attorney can protect your rights and advise you to answer or refrain from answering questions.

Search and Seizure Issues. Search warrants must be specific in their authority, and the police are bound by the limit of a search warrant in most cases. If you receive a search warrant, we can help ensure that it is properly executed. In some instances, police can perform searches without a search warrant; however, they typically must have just cause. If you have had incriminating evidence seized from your person or property, you should engage an experienced criminal law defense attorney to protect your constitutional rights against illegal searches and seizures.

The Criminal Process. Typically, you will be charged with a crime by a direct complaint or indictment. The next step will either be a preliminary hearing or an arraignment. In most cases, there will be other pre trial hearings to determine various issues, including evidentiary hearings, motion hearings, etc. Those are usually followed by a criminal trial. In some cases, there may be an appeal after the trial.

Plea versus Trial. The decision to go to trial or plea is based on many factors, predominately the evidence against you and the offer being made by the prosecution. We can help you make the ultimate decision regarding a plea offer or proceeding to trial by explaining to you the risks and benefits of either decision, and proceed according to your informed decision. 

For more information about your rights, contact us today in St. Louis at 314-878-2537, in Southwest Missouri at 417-623-0900, or toll free at 800-371-8220.  You can also email us anytime. 

IMPORTANT - The information on this website is not a substitute for legal advice. Please see Disclaimer.