Criminal Law

Criminal Law

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While crime covers a wide range of categories, there are a few common elements to a successful criminal defense. The first is an aggressive attorney who is prepared to start fighting for you immediately. This involves independently seeking out favorable witnesses and evidence, rather than waiting for the police reports from the prosecutor’s office. Second is an experienced attorney who knows how to analyze a case, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, assess the likelihood of success at trial, and recognize favorable plea deals.

DWI & DUI Lawyer

In Missouri, DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and DUI (Driving Under the Influence) terms are used to describe nearly the same offense. You may be charged if you are suspected of driving while impaired.


If you are involved in a DWI or DUI case, the experts at Hosmer, King & Royce are here to fight for you. Whether it's your first offense DWI or you're a prior offender, we want to be on your team.

Driver's License Reinstatements

Driver's License Reinstatements involve the legal procedure of restoring an individual's driving privileges after they have been suspended or revoked, which can occur due to a variety of reasons such as DUI convictions, traffic violations, or other criminal offenses. Our firm comprises of legal professionals who have extensive experience navigating the complexities of this process on behalf of our clients.

Limited Driving Privileges

Limited Driving Privileges are a type of legal arrangement that allows individuals with suspended or revoked licenses to drive under certain conditions. It is important to consult with a legal professional to ensure that you understand your options as well as the up-to-date laws in Missouri.

Misdemeanors

In the world of criminal law, misdemeanors cover relatively minor crimes, including trespassing, property damage, and small thefts. Most are punishable by fines or probation, especially for first-time offenders. When jail sentences are imposed, they are short—often just a few days and never longer than one year per offense.


While the immediate consequences may be minor, it’s important to consider all consequences before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor. A criminal conviction may mean losing a job, being rejected for future jobs, being expelled from school, losing a scholarship, and having difficulty finding housing. In addition, a previous conviction will usually lead to more severe consequences if you are ever arrested again. Therefore, it is imperative that you consider every angle of your legal defense.

Felonies

Felonies include more serious crimes such as large thefts, frauds, serious assaults, robbery, and murder. Lesser felonies may result in the same penalties as misdemeanors, but more serious felonies could result in prison sentences of anywhere from one year to life in prison.


Felony convictions also result in the loss of civil rights, such as the right to vote and the right to own a firearm. For these reasons, it’s vital to have an experienced defense attorney explore every possible option to fight the charge, have the criminal case dismissed, or have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor.

Probation Violations

If a sentence of probation is imposed, it will come with a number of conditions. Depending on the original charge, these conditions will include varying levels of supervision, restrictions on the use of drugs or alcohol, travel, and a possible curfew.


If these conditions aren’t met or if another crime is committed, the offender will be incarcerated. Because the offender is considered to have already been convicted and started serving a sentence, the prosecution has a lower burden to prove a probation violation than to prove a separate criminal charge.

Defenses

Defenses to criminal charges fall into two broad categories. One is factual defenses—that the prosecution hasn’t shown enough evidence to meet the burden of proof; that the defendant has an alibi; or that the witnesses are mistaken as to the defendant’s identity. The other group is legal defenses. These could include an illegal search or seizure that rendered key evidence inadmissible, self-defense, or entrapment. These defenses don’t turn on disputed facts but rather on how effectively the defense attorney is able to apply the available facts to the law.


If you are facing criminal charges, Hosmer King & Royce has the experience and expertise to be your best legal advocate and will fight alongside you to ensure you get the best possible outcome. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about our process or our services.

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