Criminal Defense Lawyer in Franklin County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Franklin County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct Franklin County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, winning defense strategy made especially for your own situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Franklin County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Franklin County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Franklin County. We are eager 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 Complete Franklin County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Franklin County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, including:

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

Working with the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Franklin County 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 Franklin County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct line to your attorney to listen and understand you in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you are ever questioned by the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be fine and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this is not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Franklin County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When officers “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 younger or overzealous officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could possibly place you under suspicion, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. But, 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 system. If the police want you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to ask for 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Franklin County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Franklin County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Franklin County, MO

If there’s one thing that Franklin County drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Franklin County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (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 given a traffic ticket in Franklin County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Franklin County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly 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 harsher penalties.

An increasing number of Franklin County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Franklin County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge 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 brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch Franklin County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Franklin County, 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 getting your Franklin County traffic ticket fixed.

Contact Trusted Franklin County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned Franklin County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free consultation. Our firm is eager to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.