Criminal Defense Lawyer in Clayton, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Clayton, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the ideal Clayton criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your own circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Clayton, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Clayton-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Clayton. We are waiting to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-strings-attached initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte in your corner, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Full-Service Clayton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Clayton, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Finding the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Clayton criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can call your Clayton, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to listen and understand you in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be fine and they will not hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Clayton defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their power to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. However, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely say no and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to request them, automatically makes them admissible in court as evidence, so it is critical to know your rights at all times.
• When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Clayton, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer in the room, and call a Clayton criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Clayton, MO

If there’s one thing that Clayton drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Clayton, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in Clayton, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Clayton traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be subject to increased penalties.

A growing number of Clayton drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Clayton traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional Clayton traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Clayton, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Clayton traffic ticket.

Contact Experienced Clayton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Clayton, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Our firm is here to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.