A violent crime accusation moves fast. Police build a file. Prosecutors evaluate charges. A single decision in the first 48 hours can shape the outcome of a case for years. Andrew Russek spent his career on both sides of these prosecutions, first as a public defender handling complex felonies, then inside the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Violent Crimes Unit. He built cases for the government before he built defenses against it, and he brings that inside knowledge to every client he represents.
A violent crime charge places far more than a court date at risk:
No outcome can be promised before the facts are reviewed. What can be promised is a focused, aggressive, and confidential defense from the first phone call forward.
Andrew Russek defends clients across St. Louis City and St. Louis County, and throughout Missouri.
The earliest hours after an arrest or an investigation notice carry the most weight. Evidence gets collected. Statements get locked in. Bond terms get set. A lawyer engaged early can influence questioning, evidence preservation, charging decisions, and the initial court appearance before the government’s position hardens.
Do this now:
Do not do this:
Andrew Russek offers confidential consultations for clients and concerned family members. Bring any charging paperwork, bond documents, or police correspondence already in hand, though none of it is required before the first call.
This page provides general information. It is not individualized legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts.
Andrew Russek’s practice covers a broad range of violent felony allegations across Missouri. The categories below are representative, not exhaustive.
Missouri’s Chapter 565 governs offenses against the person, including homicide, assault, domestic assault, kidnapping, and stalking. Direct and collateral consequences vary by statute, degree, criminal history, and jurisdiction.
Direct consequences may include:
Collateral consequences may include:
Sentencing outcomes depend entirely on the exact statute charged, the degree alleged, the facts of the case, and the defendant’s history. Andrew Russek reviews every case against current Missouri law before advising a client on what a charge actually means for their future.
Andrew Russek does not accept the prosecution’s version of events. He tears into it. Every case begins with a full, independent review of the evidence, not a preset defense theory.
“I built these cases from the other side of the table. I know how a prosecutor decides what to charge, what evidence they lean on, and where their case is weakest. I use that against them.” — Andrew Russek
Defense preparation may include:
No defense theory applies automatically. Andrew evaluates the evidence and the applicable law before recommending a path forward.
A defense often begins before formal charges are filed. Surveillance footage disappears. Witness memories fade. Digital records get overwritten. Andrew moves quickly to preserve and independently review evidence relevant to the allegation.
Clients should never alter, delete, or conceal evidence themselves. That decision belongs to defense counsel, working within the law.
A case may resolve through investigation, pretrial motions, negotiation, or trial. No single path fits every client. Andrew prepares each case as though it will reach a jury, then evaluates negotiation only when it genuinely serves the client’s interests.
Andrew Russek is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, the Southern District of Illinois, and the District of Kansas. He serves as a CJA Panel Member for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern District of Illinois, appointed to defend clients in federal criminal matters.
Where an alleged offense occurred determines which court hears the case and which prosecutor’s office pursues it. The St. Louis City Circuit Attorney’s Office handles prosecution of state-level felonies and misdemeanors committed within the city. St. Louis County cases proceed through a separate prosecuting attorney’s office and court system. Federal violent-crime allegations proceed through an entirely different process.
Andrew Russek represents clients across St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and federal courts throughout the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri. He tailors every defense to the venue, the charging authority, and the specific procedural posture of the case.
What should I do if St. Louis police want to question me about a violent crime? Say nothing beyond identifying yourself, and request an attorney immediately. Statements made before counsel is present get used against a defendant more often than people expect. Andrew Russek can speak with investigators on a client’s behalf and manage every point of contact with law enforcement from that point forward.
Can I be charged with a violent crime even if no one was seriously injured? Yes. Missouri law defines several violent offenses by intent, threat, or attempted harm, not only by physical injury. Assault, robbery, and kidnapping charges can proceed without a serious injury on record. The specific statute and facts alleged determine the charge level.
What is the difference between an assault charge and a domestic assault charge in Missouri? Domestic assault applies when the alleged victim shares a qualifying relationship with the accused, a spouse, family member, or household member. The relationship element adds protective-order proceedings and family-court consequences on top of the criminal case itself.
Can self-defense apply in a Missouri violent-crime case? Self-defense may apply when the facts support it, but it is never automatic. Missouri law sets specific standards for reasonable force and imminent threat. Andrew Russek evaluates whether the evidence in a specific case meets those standards before building a defense around it.
What happens after an arrest for a felony violent crime in St. Louis? An arrest typically leads to booking, a bond hearing, and a formal charging decision by the prosecutor’s office. Each stage carries deadlines and decisions that affect the entire case. Early representation during this window can shape everything that follows.
Can a violent-crime charge be reduced or dismissed? Reduction or dismissal depends entirely on the strength of the state’s evidence and the facts of the case. No outcome can be guaranteed in advance. Andrew Russek reviews every piece of available evidence before advising a client on realistic paths forward.
Every day that passes without legal representation is a day the state spends building its case uncontested. Andrew Russek offers a confidential consultation to review the charge against you, explain what the state must prove, and outline an aggressive defense strategy before any decision is made. He is available 24/7, because an arrest does not schedule itself around business hours, and neither does his response to one.
Call now to schedule your consultation. Andrew Russek is available around the clock, and the sooner he is involved, the more options remain on the table.
Don’t face criminal charges alone. Get experienced legal guidance from Russek Law Group.