Criminal Defense Lawyer in Lafayette County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Lafayette County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. 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 Lafayette County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can 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 develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy custom-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 Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Lafayette County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Lafayette County. We are eager to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-obligation initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte on your side, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Lafayette County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse 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 make the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Lafayette County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can talk to your Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, 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 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 ever get in trouble with the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be all right and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 wholly possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Lafayette 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 just passing through, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could take your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them 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 were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a genuine hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. But, police will sometimes 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 want you to sign one of these documents, politely decline and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain 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 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 Lafayette County, 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 an attorney being present, and call a Lafayette County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Lafayette County, MO

If there’s one thing that Lafayette County drivers do not like 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 Lafayette County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being given a traffic ticket in Lafayette County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Lafayette 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 facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Lafayette County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Lafayette County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch Lafayette County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Lafayette 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 begin the process of fixing your Lafayette County traffic ticket.

Contact Seasoned Lafayette County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free case review. Our firm is ready to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst family and friends.