Criminal Defense Lawyer in Lafayette, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Lafayette, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the right Lafayette criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy made especially for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Lafayette, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Lafayette-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Lafayette. 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Complete Lafayette, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Lafayette, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

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

Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Lafayette criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can talk to your Lafayette, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, 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 ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not believe you should chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Lafayette 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 watch your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. An inexperienced 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, 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 less obvious and could make you a suspect, it’s a good idea 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 hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their power to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. However, 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 system. If the police ask you to sign one of these papers, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to request them, automatically makes 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Lafayette, 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 inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Lafayette criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Lafayette, MO

If there’s one thing that Lafayette drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Lafayette, 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 were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Being given a traffic ticket in Lafayette, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Lafayette traffic ticket, you effectively 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 dramatically 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 facing harsher penalties.

A growing number of Lafayette drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Lafayette traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down 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 error. Most importantly, our top-notch Lafayette traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Lafayette, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Lafayette traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Lafayette, MO include:

• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
• Child Pornography Defense Lawyer

Contact Trusted Lafayette, 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 serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Lafayette, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free case review. Our firm is here to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.