Criminal Defense Lawyer in West Plains, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer West Plains, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, 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 looking at major penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, 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 West Plains criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will map out an intelligent, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help West Plains-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges reduce 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 West Plains. We are ready 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Full-Service West Plains, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide array of case types and criminal charges, including:

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

Finding the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other West Plains criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can talk to your West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about 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 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 the right thing, 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 a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a West Plains defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s fine 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 talking to you to begin with. A rookie or excited officer could read your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, 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 emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could possibly place you under suspicion, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect 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 gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police want you to sign one of these documents, politely say no and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to request them, automatically makes 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 West Plains, 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 questions without a lawyer in the room, and call a West Plains criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In West Plains, MO

If there’s one thing that West Plains drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around West Plains, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, 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).

Getting a traffic ticket in West Plains, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your West Plains traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be looking at harsher penalties.

A growing number of West Plains drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their West Plains traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even small 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 influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier West Plains traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in West Plains, 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 West Plains traffic ticket.

Contact Trusted West Plains, 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 substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable West Plains, 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 eager to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.