Numerous arrests for violent crimes took place here in St. Louis
The U.S. Department of Justice, along with state and local law enforcement have been busy here in St. Louis recently. Over the last three months, approximately 162 people were arrested and charged with a variety of violent crimes, including gang activity and...
What does your right to a fair trial really mean?
If you are facing criminal charges for a violent crime, your primary concern is getting a fair trial. Missouri police and prosecutors are gathering and examining evidence against you, and building a case that may be designed to end with your incarceration. However,...
Do you have grounds to appeal your verdict?
If your trial did not go as you expected, you may find yourself facing an uncertain future. You may now be facing years or even decades behind bars. As well prepared as you thought you were to present your case, the verdict did not go your way. Now, you wonder where...
Violent crimes may involve less traditional weapons, such as cars
It is probable that when most St. Louis residents think of the word "manslaughter" they think of the killing of someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife or some other lethal instrument. One lethal instrument they may not consider when it comes to violent crimes such...
Defending against accusations of running a fraud scheme
If you are facing accusations of fraud, you may not be entirely sure what you are up against. White collar crime of any kind is a serious criminal offense, and these types of cases often involve both state and federal charges. Penalties for a fraud conviction can...
How is hate crime defined?
There certainly is a perceived stigma associated with almost any criminal activity, yet that which most assign for hate crimes might be among the most prejudicial. Being accused of a hate crime can leave you facing criminal penalties, yet even beyond that, can destroy...
Missouri’s sex offender registry
Over the last several decades Missouri, like other states all across the country, has developed a method by which it tracks people convicted of crimes of a sexual nature. This is often referred to as the sex offender registry program. One of the key elements of this...
As states get looser on marijuana use, police are cracking down
State lawmakers around the country may be increasingly receptive to recreational use of marijuana, but those charged with enforcing marijuana laws are actually getting tougher. Data released recently by the FBI shows that U.S. law enforcement officers made 663,367...
Understanding the castle doctrine
Recently, a Texas murder case grabbed national and international headlines. In that case, an off-duty police officer entered the wrong apartment, mistaking it for her own. Rather than apologizing and exiting the apartment, the officer shot the apartment's rightful...
Are all forensic testing methods reliable?
There are many types of evidence that can be submitted in a criminal trial, including the results from scientific testing. A wide-range of scientific methods are used to gain information from the evidence collected at the crime scene. The problem lies in the fact that...
