Criminal Defense Lawyer in Shelby County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Shelby County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Also, 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 Shelby County 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 face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will plan out an intelligent, successful defense strategy made especially for your unique circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Shelby County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Shelby County-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 Shelby County. 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 on your side, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Complete Shelby County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Shelby County, 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 make the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Shelby County 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 contact your Shelby County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of 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 believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, 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 speak with a trusted 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 result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Shelby County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could take 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 a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, 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 make you a suspect, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel 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 heavily sanctions their power to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely say no and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain 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 critical to know your rights at all times.
• When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Shelby County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a Shelby County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Shelby County, MO

If there’s one thing that Shelby 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 around Shelby County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in Shelby County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Shelby County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.

More and more Shelby County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Shelby County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor 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, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional Shelby County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional 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 issued a traffic ticket in Shelby County, 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 getting your Shelby County traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Shelby County, MO include:

• 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
• Criminal Lawyer

Contact Experienced Shelby County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Shelby County, 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 here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.