Criminal Defense Lawyer in Clay County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Clay 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 jail time. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct Clay County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will develop a proven, winning defense strategy custom-made for your unique 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 Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Clay County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Clay County. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Clay County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive 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 losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Clay County 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 contact your Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 the right thing, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Clay County defense lawyer is the right decision:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine 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. A younger or overzealous officer could take 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 the officer. 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 make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their ability to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. 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 refuse 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 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 Clay County, 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 inquiries without a lawyer in the room, and call a Clay County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Clay County, MO

If there’s one thing that Clay County drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Clay County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Being given a traffic ticket in Clay County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Clay County traffic ticket, you indirectly 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 at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.

A growing number of Clay County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Clay County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to all 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, do not stay on your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our top-notch Clay County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Clay 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 Clay County traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Clay County, 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 Experienced Clay 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 substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our firm is ready to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.