Criminal Defense Lawyer in Jackson County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Jackson County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties ranging from fines to hours 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 restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the right Jackson County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy made especially for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Jackson County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Jackson County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Jackson 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 in your corner, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Full-Service Jackson County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Jackson County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide 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 going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Jackson County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can call your Jackson County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, 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 ever get in trouble with the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be fine 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 talk to an experienced 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 circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Jackson County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and were in no way involved it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could see your statement 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, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could lead to you being a person of interest, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign a document. 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 sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to 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 bloodstream. If the police want you to sign one of these papers, politely refuse and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to request them, automatically makes 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 Jackson 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 an attorney being present, and call a Jackson County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Jackson County, MO

If there’s one thing that Jackson County drivers do not like 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 Jackson County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in Jackson County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Jackson County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be facing 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 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 stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Jackson County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Jackson County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch Jackson County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional 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 given a traffic ticket in Jackson 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 Jackson County traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in Jackson 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 Seasoned Jackson County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a skilled Jackson 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 here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.