Criminal Defense Lawyer in O’Fallon, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer O’Fallon, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be subject to major penalties ranging from fines to time 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 the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct O’Fallon criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can your charges being lowered, 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 own circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced O’Fallon, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help O’Fallon-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in O’Fallon. 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 to work for you, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Complete O’Fallon, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable O’Fallon, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive 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 make the difference between your case being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other O’Fallon criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your O’Fallon, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, 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 what they want to hear, you will be fine 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 speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a O’Fallon defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s safe 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. A rookie or overzealous officer could read your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch 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 require you to grant access to personal information. However, police will sometimes 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 ask you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in O’Fallon, 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 questions without a lawyer in the room, and call a O’Fallon criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In O’Fallon, MO

If there’s one thing that O’Fallon drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around O’Fallon, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Getting a traffic ticket in O’Fallon, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your O’Fallon 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 staring down 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, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be looking at stiffer penalties.

More and more O’Fallon drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their O’Fallon traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even small 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 affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch O’Fallon traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in O’Fallon, 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 O’Fallon traffic ticket.

Contact Seasoned O’Fallon, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable O’Fallon, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free review of your case. 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.