Criminal Defense Lawyer in Cape Girardeau County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Cape Girardeau County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. 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 right Cape Girardeau County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy made especially for your own situation, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Cape Girardeau County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Cape Girardeau County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Cape Girardeau County. We are ready 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 to work for you, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Complete Cape Girardeau County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Cape Girardeau County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, including:

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

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Cape Girardeau 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 call your Cape Girardeau County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a direct line to your attorney to lend an ear in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may think 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 is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is 100% possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Cape Girardeau County defense lawyer is the right decision:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and were just passing through, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A younger or excited officer could take your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could make you a suspect, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their ability to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police request that you sign one of these forms, politely decline and ask 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 request them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial 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 Cape Girardeau 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 inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Cape Girardeau County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Cape Girardeau County, MO

If there’s one thing that Cape Girardeau County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Cape Girardeau County, MO know that local municipal police departments use 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 levy property tax on homeowners).

Being given a traffic ticket in Cape Girardeau County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Cape Girardeau County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to increased penalties.

A growing number of Cape Girardeau County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Cape Girardeau County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier Cape Girardeau County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 given a traffic ticket in Cape Girardeau 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 fixing your Cape Girardeau County traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in Cape Girardeau 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 Trusted Cape Girardeau County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a skilled Cape Girardeau 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 chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.