Criminal Defense Lawyer in Festus, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Festus, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the ideal Festus criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will map out a smart, successful defense strategy custom-made for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Festus, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Festus-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Festus. We are ready 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 talk to us online today.

A Complete Festus, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Festus, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

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

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Festus criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can talk to your Festus, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 all right and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Festus defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were just passing through, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force 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 sanctions their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these papers, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to request them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial 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 Festus, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Festus criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Festus, MO

If there’s one thing that Festus drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Festus, 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 town 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 Festus, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Festus traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you 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 a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be facing increased penalties.

More and more Festus drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Festus traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Festus traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Festus, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Festus traffic ticket.

Contact Experienced Festus, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Festus, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is ready to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.