Missouri Criminal Nonsupport Defense Lawyer

Missouri Criminal Nonsupport – Missouri Revised Statutes

Section 568.040.1. In the State of Missouri, a person commits the crime of Criminal Nonsupport if such parent knowingly fails to provide 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.

5. Criminal Nonsupport 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 any court of competent jurisdiction or any authorized administrative agency, in which case it is a Class E Felony.

The range of punishment on a Class D Felony Charge is from One day to One year in Jail, or up to Four years in the Department of Corrections (Prison), or a fine up to $10,000.00, or, a combination of a fine and period of incarceration in either Jail or Prison.

The range of punishment on a Class A Misdemeanor Charge is from One day to One year in Jail, or, a fine up to $2,000.00, or, a combination of a fine and period of incarceration in Jail.

Beginning January 1, 2017–Criminal nonsupport, will be 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 any court of competent jurisdiction or any authorized administrative agency, in which case it is a Class E felony.

You may ask how can the State of Missouri charge a person with the crime of Criminal Nonsupport?

The fact is that as long as the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the State of Missouri can show by their records that you allegedly owe more than the total amount of 12 months worth of back child support, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has the basic facts to file a Felony Charge of Criminal Nonsupport against you. For example, if you owe the sum of $100.00 per month for child support, and the total amount of back child support you owe is over the sum of $1,200.00, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has the grounds to file a Felony Charge of Criminal Nonsupport against you. If the total amount of back child support you owe it is less than the sum of $1,200.00, then the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office only has the basic grounds to file a Misdemeanor Charge of Criminal Nonsupport against you.

However, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the State of Missouri still has to be able to PROVE that you are guilty of this Charge of Criminal Nonsupport beyond a reasonable doubt. That is why you need a Missouri Criminal Nonsupport Defense Lawyer to represent you and to defend you so that you can be found NOT GUILTY of this Charge of Criminal Nonsupport!

If I go to Jail or Prison for this Criminal Nonsupport Charge, will I still owe back child support when I am released? Is the back child support “wiped out” or “waived” or “forgiven” if I do time in Jail or Prison for Criminal Nonsupport?

You should also know that if you end up doing time in Prison or Jail on this Criminal Nonsupport Charge, the State of Missouri will NOT erase or wipe out the child support you owe in this case. In fact, while you are locked up, the child support you owe for your child(ren) will continue to add up against you. When you are finally released from custody, you will be just that much further behind in your child support payments. You will end up owing more money for child support than when this criminal case started!

I never charge a fee for an initial consultation because I understand that it is an important step in the process of finding the right Missouri Criminal Nonsupport Defense Lawyer for you. Call today to contact my office so we can set up a time to meet face to face with you so I can answer all of your Missouri Criminal Nonsupport defense questions.

Call me at:

DOUGLAS RICHARDS
ATTORNEY AT LAW

9666 Olive Blvd., Ste. 365

St. Louis, MO 63132

314-517-5756

or

636-256-7300

I look forward to sitting down and talking to you face to face, so you can teach me the facts of your case and I can teach you what the law is and what legal defenses and legal tactics that are available to you, so that together, we can achieve the Best Result for you!

Missouri Criminal Nonsupport Defense Lawyer | Law Office of Douglas Richards | Douglas Richards Attorney at Law | www.dnrichardslaw.com

Law Office of Douglas Richards, Missouri Criminal Nonsupport Defense Lawyer, 9666 Olive Blvd, Ste 365, St Louis, MO 63132. 314-517-5756 or 636-256-7300

I am a Missouri Criminal Nonsupport Defense Lawyer – with over 34 years of experience and has been defending people in areas of St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County and Franklin County.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

St Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Office

Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Office

Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Office

St Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Office

State of Missouri Department of Social Services Web Page

Missouri Family Support Payment Center Internet Payment Website