When you're facing criminal charges, the decisions you make in the first hours matter. A charge on your record — even a misdemeanor — can affect your job, your housing, your professional license, and your freedom. Our firm represents people accused of crimes across Columbia, MO and central Missouri, from arraignment through trial, with one attorney on your case from the first call to the final outcome.
(573) 499-0200 — call anytimeCases we handle: DWI / DUI · Drug charges · Assault & battery · Theft & burglary · Traffic violations · Probation violations · Felony & misdemeanor charges
Facing criminal charges in Missouri means your freedom, your driving privileges, and your future are at stake. Missouri prosecutors are experienced and well-resourced. They build their cases through police investigation, witness statements, and evidence gathered long before charges are formally filed — often before you've had a chance to speak with legal counsel about these serious legal matters.
The gap between having a skilled criminal defense attorney and going it alone — or relying on an overworked public defender — can mean the difference between a dismissed charge and a felony conviction that follows you for decades. Every criminal case deserves a real defense, and a firm commitment to protect your rights from the start, regardless of how the arrest looked on paper.
"You are not required to help the prosecution build its case. The right to remain silent and the right to counsel exist for a reason. Use them." — Chris Miller, Attorney at Law, Bur Oak Legal
Bur Oak Legal is a criminal defense law firm handling a wide range of criminal charges in Boone County, Callaway County, and across the central Missouri area — representing individuals and families in communities throughout the region. Whether you're facing a misdemeanor or a serious felony, the defense process starts with understanding exactly what the prosecution has — and what they don't.
A DWI charge in Missouri carries serious consequences including license suspension, fines, and potential jail time. Under Chapter 577 RSMo, repeat offenses or aggravating factors can elevate a DWI to a felony. Driving privileges and your record depend on acting quickly.
Drug crimes range from misdemeanor possession to felony distribution charges. The conduct of the police investigation — search procedures, probable cause, chain of custody — often determines whether evidence can be challenged or suppressed before trial.
Assault charges vary widely in severity depending on the alleged conduct and the involvement of weapons or alleged victims. The strength of witnesses and physical evidence are central to any defense. These cases require careful early investigation.
Theft, burglary, and property crime charges can carry serious penalties depending on the value involved. Felonies at this level can affect professional licenses and future employment. A careful review of the evidence and circumstances is essential.
Missouri felonies carry sentences of more than one year and can permanently alter your life. When you're accused of a serious crime, you need an attorney who knows how to challenge evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and stand before a judge and fight for the best possible outcome in the courtroom.
Missouri's expungement law (Section 610.140 RSMo) allows eligible individuals to clear qualifying convictions from their record. Expungement can restore opportunities for employment, housing, and professional licensing. Ask us whether your record qualifies.
Bur Oak Legal is based in Columbia, MO. That means familiarity with the Boone County Circuit Court, the local prosecutors, and how criminal cases actually move through this system — not just how they're supposed to move on paper.
Chris Miller is a Missouri criminal defense attorney who has represented clients at every level of the court system — from initial hearings in local courts to the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court, where he won a case that set precedent expanding the rights of Missouri workers statewide.
Every criminal defense case at Bur Oak Legal stays with Chris from the first consultation to the final outcome. No handoffs to associates. No rotation. The attorney who evaluates your case is the attorney who defends it.
Chris also spent years as a government attorney working inside Missouri's legal and administrative systems before entering private practice. That background shapes how he approaches every case: understanding how the other side builds a case, and where to find the pressure points that matter.
The steps you take immediately after an arrest or the filing of charges have a direct impact on your case. Missouri's criminal court process moves quickly — from arraignment to preliminary hearing to trial. Here is what matters most:
Bur Oak Legal represents clients in workers' compensation, personal injury, and criminal defense cases across central Missouri.
Your case stays with Chris from the first call to the final outcome. Call (573) 499-0200 or fill out the form.