If you are charged with a sexual crime in Missouri, penalties can be severe and life-altering. Depending on the offense, if you have previously been charged and convicted, and if the charge involves a minor, you can end up with hefty fines and prison time. However,...
When an individual uses physical force against another person, Missouri classifies this action as a violent crime. The majority of these cases are prosecuted at the state level, but under unique circumstances, these crimes can become federal offenses. A federal...
Some states define assault as an intentional act that causes physical harm to another, including making threats, or attempting physical contact, even if there are no injuries. Battery, on the other hand, is the actual act that inflicts the injury. In Missouri, there...
The Fourth Amendment protects Missouri citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. In most cases, police and other law enforcement entities must have a valid search warrant or other lawful reason to enter your home. Judges issues search...
You're hearing more and more about rising traffic injuries and deaths in the St. Louis metro, but particularly in St. Louis City. Recently, the St. Louis Post Dispatch published an article with an enlightening graphic depicting the most dangerous intersections in the...
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act) was passed in 1970 with the aim of eradicating organized crime. It focuses on “racketeering,” which comes to us from the Prohibition-era phrase, “running rackets.” However, the RICO Act is not limited...
Imagine you are driving, and the police pull you over. The officer asks to see your cell phone or takes it during an arrest. But can they search your phone without a warrant? The short answer is no. The longer answer is that it can happen due to mistakes and certain...
