Criminal Defense Lawyer in Howell County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Howell County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor 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 affected, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties varying from fines to hours 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 a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the right Howell 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 punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Howell County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Howell County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Howell County. 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 Full-Service Howell County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Howell County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, such as:

• 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 losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Howell County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can contact your Howell County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, 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 think that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, 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 speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Howell County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could take your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, 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 make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their power to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit 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 request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Howell County, MO. If you are ever actually detained 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 Howell County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Howell County, MO

If there’s one thing that Howell County drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Howell County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in Howell County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Howell County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be facing stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Howell County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Howell County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly 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 error. Best of all, our exceptional Howell County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Howell County, 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 getting your Howell County traffic ticket fixed.

Contact Experienced Howell County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Howell County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case. Our firm is eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.