Kirkwood, Missouri Steps Up Enforcement of Prostitution Ordinance

Recently there has been a wave of arrests in the City of Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri for solicitation of prostitution and patronizing prostitution. Many of the arrests have resulted from individuals allegedly calling online advertisements. The ordinance for patronizing prostitution in Kirkwood is as follows:

Sec. 17-91. Patronizing prostitution – penalty.

(1) A person commits the crime of patronizing prostitution if:

(a) Pursuant to prior understanding, he or she gives something of value to another person as compensation for that person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with him or her, or with another; or

(b) He or she gives or agrees to give something of value to another person on an understanding that in return therefore that person or a third person will engage in sexual conduct with him or her, or with another; or

(c) He or she solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with him or her, or with another, or to secure a third person to engage in sexual conduct with him or her, or with another, in return for something of value.

(2) It shall not be an affirmation defense that the defendant believed that the person he or she patronized for prostitution was eighteen years of age or older.

If charged with solicitation and patronizing prostitution, it is vital that an individual obtain experienced legal representation in order to ensure all proper defenses are raised. The St. Louis solicitation and patronizing prostitution lawyers at Henderson & Waterkotte, P.C. have represented many individuals charged with solicitation in and around the St. Louis area, including Kirkwood, and received extremely favorable results for their clients. If you have been charged with patronizing prostitution, call us today to schedule your free consultation. Our lawyers are available 24/7 to begin your confidential defense as soon as possible.

Arrested for DWI: Now What? | St. Louis DWI Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested for DWI, you may be experiencing a variety of emotions and understandably so. You may be embarrassed because of the situation, scared because of the uncertainty of the process, or nervous as to how your DWI charge will affect you and your future. Fortunately, you have rights during the process and do not have to navigate the criminal justice system alone.

The first thing to remember if you have received a DWI is the various time limitations associated with your driving privileges. The time limitations to act and to preserve your driving privileges depend on whether you submitted to a breathalyzer or whether you refused to submit to a breathalyzer. Also, your decision of whether to submit or refuse to a breathalyzer will not only dictate the time limitations in which you must act, but it will also dictate what course of action is necessary. Accordingly, it is critical that you immediately seek out an experienced DWI lawyer and not wait. Frequently, individuals who receive a DWI think that because they don’t have a court date coming up, they can just deal with it later. This line of thinking can have a devastating impact on your driving privileges.

When seeking out a lawyer, there are several important things to look for. First and perhaps most important is the lawyer’s experience in handling DWI cases. Is the lawyer’s practice devoted primarily to criminal defense and DWI cases? Has the lawyer tried DWI cases? Has the lawyer been successful in preserving his or client’s driving privileges? Does the lawyer have experience in handling felony DWI cases? Cases involving CDL holders? These are all important things to discuss with a lawyer when making your decision. Also, it is important that you feel comfortable with your lawyer. After all, the two of you will be working together in an effort to achieve the best possible result.

At Henderson & Waterkotte, P.C., our lawyers handle a wide variety of DWI cases from first-time offenses to felony offenses. We have a track record of achieving successful results for our clients. If you have received a DWI, call our office today to schedule a free consultation and to learn how the law applies to your specific situation.

Failing to Pay Child Support May Result In a Criminal Charge

In Missouri, failing to pay your monthly child support obligation can lead to a misdemeanor or even felony criminal charge. A person commits the crime of non-support if he or she knowingly fails to provide, without good cause, adequate support for his or her spouse. A parent commits the crime of non-support if such parent knowingly fails to provide, without good cause, adequate support which such parent is legally obligated to provide for his or her child or stepchild who is not otherwise emancipated by operation of law.

Criminal non-support can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony offense. Criminal non-support is a Class A misdemeanor, unless the total arrearage is in excess of an aggregate of twelve monthly payments due under any order of support issued by the court or any authorized administrative agency, in which case it is a class D felony.

Given the current state of the economy, it not unusual to find yourself in a position where you simply cannot pay child support. There are, however, defenses to a criminal charge of non-support. It is vital that if arrested or charged with criminal non-support in Missouri, you immediately call our office to speak to one of our experienced Missouri non-support lawyers to assist you with your case. Call us today for a free consultation.

Can the Police Search a Bag or Purse After an Arrest?

In Illinois v. Lafayette, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the personal effects including “any container or article in his possession” of an arrested person may be searched and inventoried as a part of the routine administrative procedure at a police station incident to booking and jailing the suspect. The Supreme Court held that under the 4th Amendment balancing test, the intrusion on the individual is outweighed by the promotion of legitimate governmental interests involved.

Accordingly, if a person were arrested for disturbing the peace and taken into custody at the police station, the police may inventory the arrestee’s bags or purse. Because the police are allowed to conduct this type of search, it can often lead to additional charges than what the individual was initially arrested for if he or she is carrying illegal drugs or weapons.

If you or someone you know has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, it is important to immediately call an experienced Missouri criminal defense lawyer. The St. Louis criminal defense lawyers of Henderson & Waterkotte, P.C. can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.