Facing criminal charges brings a heavy burden of stress, fear, and uncertainty into your life. The thought of stepping into a courtroom can make your heart race. You might feel isolated as you worry about your freedom, your family, and your future. This anxiety is completely natural. The legal process is complex, but understanding the steps ahead can bring you much-needed peace of mind.
I am attorney Scott A. Hamblin. For more than two decades, I have stood by individuals facing state and federal criminal charges. I understand the intense pressure you feel right now. My commitment to excellence drives me to provide unwavering representation. I know that knowing what to expect in the courtroom can relieve some of your anxiety.
If you’re facing a preliminary hearing in Missouri, here’s what you should expect:
A preliminary hearing is a pre-trial event for felony cases held before an associate circuit judge. The primary purpose of this hearing is not to decide if you are guilty or innocent. Instead, the court uses this time to evaluate whether the state has enough basic evidence to justify putting you through a full trial.
Because the stakes are so high in felony cases, the law requires this step to protect citizens from baseless prosecutions. If the state cannot provide a basic foundation for the charges, the court can dismiss the case early in the process.
During a trial, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. At a preliminary hearing, the standard is much lower. The state only needs to establish “probable cause.”
To prove probable cause, the prosecutor must simply show two things:
Because probable cause is a lower standard, the state secures a high number of cases moving forward. However, this hearing still provides a vital opportunity for your defense to see the prosecution’s strategy.
The prosecution will call witnesses and present evidence to build their case. Having strong legal representation is critical during this phase. As your attorney, I can take several actions to protect your rights during this presentation:
While the defense has the right to present evidence, we often choose not to at this stage. We prefer to keep our defense strategy guarded until the formal trial.
After hearing the evidence, the judge will make a ruling. There are a few different ways this can play out for your case.
If the judge finds probable cause, your case is “bound over” to the circuit court for a trial. If the judge does not find probable cause, they will dismiss the charges and release you. However, the prosecutor can still attempt to refile the charges or take the case to a grand jury later.
Sometimes, we may decide to waive the preliminary hearing altogether. We might do this to protect a favorable plea negotiation or keep certain evidence off the record. I will review every detail of your case to help you make the best strategic decision.
A preliminary hearing is a critical early milestone in the criminal justice system. The prosecution must prove probable cause, witnesses take the stand, and the judge decides the immediate fate of your case. You do not have to face this intimidating process alone.
I care about my clients and their concerns. I will carefully listen to your goals, provide a candid assessment of your case, and fight aggressively for your rights. Contact my office today to discuss your situation and begin building a strong defense.
A Jefferson City man faced DUI charges following a field sobriety test. Charges against the defendant were dropped after Scott successfully maintained the client’s claims that the test results were inaccurate. While the client initially appeared to be in a difficult situation, Scott was able to push investigators to determine the sobriety test results as invalid, so the charges were dismissed.
A mother was seeking sole custody of her children following a divorce. The father refused to cooperate, leaving the client in a difficult situation as she felt as though her children didn’t have a voice. Scott recognized her need for an advocate and carefully listened to the children’s wishes, which conclusively helped the client achieve sole custody of her children and protected their best interests.
A client from Fulton was accused of drug possession as a result of a home search. While drug charges may potentially be filed as a Class C felony involving severe consequences, Scott was able to help the client receive a reduced sentence. Ultimately, the client faced significantly smaller penalties compared to the initial charges.
Scott assisted a defendant in a particularly challenging divorce case in which the other spouse was not cooperating. Scott was able to help the client avoid court through an aggressive legal approach to resolve all outstanding disagreements while maintaining the client’s long-term needs.
One client sought legal assistance after an altercation with another individual in Jefferson City. The client was arrested on assault charges despite allegedly not starting the fight. Since an arrest can lead to life-altering penalties such as being terminated from employment and serving jail time, Scott was able to build a solid legal defense in the client’s favor and argued in favor of the client’s innocence.
A grandparent sought visitation rights to his grandchild after the parent tried to block him. Scott takes grandparents’ rights very seriously, and so he devised a strategy to help the grandparent set a visitation schedule. Scott developed a strategy to show that the child’s best interests were fulfilled through the grandparent’s ability to visit the child, helping push the case towards a resolution in the client’s favor.
Scott assisted a client who was injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence. The defendant claimed that the opposing party using their phone at the time of the crash, and Scott emphasized this claim to show that the other driver was at fault for the client’s injuries. The case concluded with the client receiving the necessary compensation for medical bills following a long hospital stay due to injuries.
I came to Mr. Hamblin with a very difficult case. Prior to discovering him, I had tried to contact other attorneys who would not return my calls. Mr. Hamblin willingly agreed to represent me. He was straightforward with me, assuring me that he would work toward the best outcome possible. Whenever I contacted his office by phone or email with a question, I received a quick response. I would not hesitate to seek his services in any future legal matters. He achieved an unimaginably excellent outcome for my case, lifting a heavy burden off my shoulders. Thanks, Scott, for your…
I cannot say enough good things about Scott Hamblin and his team. From the beginning, Scott was extremely organized, thorough, and realistic. He was always honest with me about my options and what to expect, and he never made promises he couldn't guarantee. At the same time, he was confident, strategic, and fully prepared. Going into trial, I knew we had challenges. It was clear the guardian ad litem's position was biased and not favorable to me, and at times, it felt like the odds were stacked against me. However, Scott's preparation, command of the facts, and ability to clearly…
If you are looking for an attorney who always strives to win, Scott is your number one choice. He is here for you and is there to win the case. I believe he has the best of intentions to do the job he is hired for every time. Best of all, he takes pride in his work!! If you are reading this, there is no need to look any further.
Going to court is, without a doubt, the scariest and my stressful thing that I have ever done. All the legalities and unknowns are all you can think about, and having a good attorney to ease some of those worries is essential. From the first day we met Mr. Hamblin, he has been kind, understanding, and patient with us. He was great at listening and giving us options. Also, when needed, he communicated when we were being unreasonable. Honestly, we have all been a little unreasonable when frustrated, but I was glad he communicated that before we went to court.…
This is where I found myself about a year ago – reading Scott Hamblin’s Google reviews and wondering who I should turn to for help. My ex-wife (a former family law attorney) was trying to relocate our two children out of state. I’m not an attorney. I didn’t yet live in Cole County. I read Scott’s bio and his reviews and decided to take a chance. It was one of the best decisions I made during the most difficult year of my life. Scott is a trial attorney, and he is a pro. He set clear expectations about the case,…
When first starting out I wasn't sure who could handle my situation I was in I did some research on Google and found Scott Hamblin and read the reviews I ended up hiring Scott Hamblin and I was in a situation where the Mom was making really bad allegations and alienating me from my Child but in the end Scott Hamblin was a great lawyer he did his job extremely well and was able to get my son back to me I definitely would recommend him to anyone that is in need with any kind of legal or family case.
Attorney Hamblin is extremely professional, kind, and caring. We hired him for a family law case. We won!! He was prepared for the case and did an excellent job. I would highly recommend him. I trust him so much that I’m planning to have him help us with our will next. I deeply appreciate how hard he worked for us.
I was going through a contested divorce case and custody battle. When I hired Scott I felt my world was crashing around me. Scott jumped in and handled the case very professionally and to the point. He argued the facts and made sure that my rights was not violated. I am happy to report that I have my children with me now and could not be happier. Thank you Scott for fighting for me. If I ever need an attorney again, Scott Hamblin will be the one that I am going to call.
I hired Scott in the middle of my 2 yearlong custody modification case. After discussing with Scott about how I felt I did not have an aggressive enough lawyer with my first lawyer for the case, I was fighting against ex-husband, Scott gladly took the case. Scott and Madysn were extremely responsive with questions that I had and, helped me along the way to make the best decisions for my case with my financial situation in mind. Scott left no rock unturned in the trial and was extremely prepared for the case. After a long 2 days' worth of trial,…
Scott was knowledgeable and efficient, expertly guiding us through the process. He took the time to explain every step clearly and made sure we felt informed and confident in our decisions. Beyond his professionalism and attention to detail, Scott was also incredibly kind and personable, which made working with him a genuinely positive experience. His responsiveness and approachable demeanor helped put us at ease throughout. I would highly recommend Scott to anyone in need of legal services.
For accessible and experienced representation, contact attorney Scott Hamblin today.
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