Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Francois County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Francois County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues 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, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the correct St. Francois County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will map out a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced St. Francois County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist St. Francois County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in St. Francois 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 St. Francois County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled St. Francois County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse array 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 going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other St. Francois County 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 call your St. Francois County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, 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 ever get in trouble with 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 give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to 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 result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a St. Francois County defense lawyer is the right decision:

• When officers “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 mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your statement the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request 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 leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky 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 paperwork. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their power to obtain 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 system. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate 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 St. Francois County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody 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 in the room, and call a St. Francois County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Francois County, MO

If there’s one thing that St. Francois County drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over St. Francois 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 declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in St. Francois County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your St. Francois County 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 facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets usually 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 facing harsher penalties.

Many St. Francois County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Francois County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier St. Francois County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in St. Francois County, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your St. Francois County traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in St. Francois 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 Experienced St. Francois County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned St. Francois 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 talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.