Criminal Defense Lawyer in Ste. Genevieve, MO
Criminal Defense Lawyer Ste. Genevieve, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be subject to significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. In addition, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the correct Ste. Genevieve criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will plan out a proven, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even do away with—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 from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce 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-obligation initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
Ste. Genevieve County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Ste. Genevieve County and Missouri.
A Complete Ste. Genevieve, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array 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 being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Ste. Genevieve criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can call your Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, 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 are ever questioned by 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 not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Ste. Genevieve defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near 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 your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police emphasizes 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 safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their ability 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 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 allowing the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to request 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any questions without an attorney being present, and call a Ste. Genevieve criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up 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 on their rear bumper, 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 police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you 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 drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
A growing number of Ste. Genevieve drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even minor 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 influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier Ste. Genevieve traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional 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 given a traffic ticket in Ste. Genevieve, MO and do not want it to affect 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.
Other cases we take on in Ste. Genevieve, MO include:
- Gun Crime Lawyer
- Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
- Homicide Lawyer
- Assault Lawyer
- Rape Defense Lawyer
- Sex Offense Lawyers
- DWI Attorney
- Crime Defense Lawyers
- Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
- Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
Contact Trusted Ste. Genevieve, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a knowledgeable 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 consultation. Our firm is eager to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst your community.