Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Louis County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be subject to major penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. 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 right St. Louis County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will map out a smart, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced St. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help St. Louis County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in St. Louis 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 Complete St. Louis County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled St. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive variety 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 being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other St. Louis County 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 call your St. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a direct line to your attorney to lend an ear 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 talk to 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 greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a St. Louis County defense lawyer is the right decision:

• 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 safe 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 talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. 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 tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign a document. 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 greatly limits their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which allow 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 papers, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for them, automatically makes 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in St. Louis County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any questions without an attorney being present, and call a St. Louis County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Louis County, MO

If there’s one thing that St. Louis County drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over St. Louis County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, 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).

Being written a traffic ticket in St. Louis County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your St. Louis County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to harsher penalties.

An increasing number of St. Louis County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Louis County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen 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 reduced 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 error. Most importantly, our top-notch St. Louis County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 written a traffic ticket in St. Louis 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 St. Louis County traffic ticket fixed.

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

When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to substantial felonies, talk to a skilled St. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Our firm is here to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.