Criminal Defense Lawyer in Farmington, MO
Criminal Defense Lawyer Farmington, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Farmington criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will develop a proven, winning defense strategy made especially for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Farmington, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Farmington-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Farmington. 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
St. Francois County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Francois County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Farmington, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Farmington, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Farmington criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can talk to your Farmington, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct 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 believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be fine 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 veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Farmington defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can talk to 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 murky and could make you a suspect, you should 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 hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their ability to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely decline and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain 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 Farmington, MO. If you are ever actually detained 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 Farmington criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Farmington, MO
If there’s one thing that Farmington drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Farmington, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, 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 have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in Farmington, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Farmington 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 looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Farmington drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Farmington traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly 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 influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Farmington traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Farmington, 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 start the process of getting your Farmington traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Farmington, 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 Seasoned Farmington, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned Farmington, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free consultation. Our firm is ready to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.