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Vernon County, MO

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Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Vernon County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Vernon County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change 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 substantial penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the right Vernon County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will map out an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-made for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Vernon County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Vernon County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Vernon County. We are eager 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 contact online today.

A Complete Vernon County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Vernon County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:

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 Vernon County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can contact your Vernon County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day 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 lend an ear in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you are ever questioned by 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 not always the case, 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 entirely possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Vernon County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

  • When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s logical 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 in the first place. A rookie or overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, it’s a good idea 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 suspicion 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 force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes 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 papers, politely refuse and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing 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 key 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 Vernon County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Vernon County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Vernon County, MO

If there’s one thing that Vernon County drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Vernon County, 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 declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in Vernon County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Vernon County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be subject to stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Vernon County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Vernon County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our exceptional Vernon County 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 issued a traffic ticket in Vernon 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 Vernon County traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Vernon County, MO include:

Contact Experienced Vernon County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned Vernon County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Our firm is here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.

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