Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ste. Genevieve, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Ste. Genevieve, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the right Ste. Genevieve criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Ste. Genevieve-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 Ste. Genevieve. We are waiting 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Complete Ste. Genevieve, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Ste. Genevieve, 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

Working with 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 Ste. Genevieve 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 Ste. Genevieve, 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 current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to listen and understand you 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 what they want to hear, 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 speak with a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not believe you should chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Ste. Genevieve defense lawyer is the right decision:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved 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 younger or excited 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, 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 just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could lead to you being a person of interest, you should 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 reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow 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 papers, politely decline and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Ste. Genevieve, 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 inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Ste. Genevieve criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Ste. Genevieve, MO

If there’s one thing that Ste. Genevieve drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Ste. Genevieve, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, 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 have a property tax at all).

Being written a traffic ticket in Ste. Genevieve, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket, you essentially 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 greatly increase. Tickets usually cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing increased penalties.

An increasing number of Ste. Genevieve drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our exceptional Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Ste. Genevieve, 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 fixing your Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket.

Contact Seasoned Ste. Genevieve, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Ste. Genevieve, 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 chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.