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Defending Juveniles Against Unfair Criminal Charges

Young people make mistakes. Unfortunately, an error in judgment or associations with the wrong people can result in criminal charges such as a misdemeanor or felony offense. Some of the most common juvenile charges include:

If your child has been charged with a criminal offense, the stakes are high, particularly in felony charges. In some serious felony cases, a prosecutor may even attempt to move a juvenile case to adult court.

At Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP, we have garnered a reputation with prosecutors as being aggressive, talented and results-driven litigators with experience in over 125 jury trials. The outcome of a juvenile case will have a long-term impact upon the future opportunities of your child, which is why we urge you to contact us immediately. As one of the premier criminal defense law firms practicing in St. Louis, you can be confident that your son or daughter will be represented by a highly-rated criminal defense lawyer.

The Juvenile Court System In St. Louis

The juvenile court system is geared to rehabilitate rather than punish – but heavy penalties can be imposed in certain types of crimes. Juvenile legal proceedings are managed by a specific set of legal rules under Missouri law.

When a child under 17 is taken into custody in St. Louis, they must be transferred to juvenile court. Once the juvenile court is informed that a child is in detention, the reasons for the detention must be examined at once, and then the child is either released or must remain in detention until a hearing is held – which must take place within 24 hours.

At Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP, we will aggressively protect the rights of young people being held in juvenile court who are accused of misdemeanor or felony offenses.

Certification Proceedings: Juvenile Transferred To Adult Court

Very serious felony crime accusations can lead to “certification proceedings.” This is the process by which a juvenile crime case is moved to adult court. These are cases involving first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, rape, first-degree robbery or drug distribution crimes. The seriousness of the offense, the facts in the case, prior record, age and several other factors are taken into account in a certification proceeding. It is critical that you have aggressive legal representation who is fully prepared to fight any effort to transfer a juvenile felony case to adult court.

Juvenile Sex Offenses

Missouri maintains a juvenile sex offender registry which lists juveniles who have committed or attempted to commit a sex-related crime which would be a felony for an adult offender. For some sex offenses, once the juvenile reaches twenty-one, they may be required to register as an adult offender. If your child is accused of any sex-related offense, it is imperative that we get involved in the defense immediately. Early negotiations with the prosecutor could benefit your child.

Contact Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP For A Trusted Ally

Our firm is recognized for its premier litigators and aggressive defenders of both adults and children. If your son or daughter is facing charges, we urge you to connect with us without delay. Our juvenile criminal defense lawyer has extensive trial experience, is peer-review rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been listed in Super Lawyers since 2006. Call (314) 354-8484 to get in touch with a member of our team.