Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Francois County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Francois County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. In addition, 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 St. Francois County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, 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 tailor-made for your own situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

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

The experienced St. Francois County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:

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

Finding the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other St. Francois County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can talk to your St. Francois County, 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, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to lend an ear 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 hassle you further. 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 believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a St. Francois County defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could take your statement 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 call an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could make you a suspect, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their ability to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. But, 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 ask you to sign one of these documents, politely decline and ask to speak 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 key 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 St. Francois County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer in the room, and call a St. Francois County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Francois County, MO

If there’s one thing that St. Francois County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around St. Francois County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, 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 St. Francois County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your St. Francois County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you 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 generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of St. Francois County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Francois County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even small 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 an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our premier St. Francois County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in St. Francois 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 start the process of fixing your St. Francois County traffic ticket.

Contact Seasoned St. Francois County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to serious felonies, talk to a knowledgeable St. Francois County, 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 here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst your community.