Criminal Defense Lawyer Portage Des Sioux, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the ideal Portage Des Sioux criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will develop a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your own 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 veteran Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Portage Des Sioux-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 unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Portage Des Sioux. 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 on your side, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
St. Charles County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Charles County and Missouri.
A Complete Portage Des Sioux, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive array of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Finding the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Portage Des Sioux 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 contact your Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated 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 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 a rare occurrence, 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 greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Portage Des Sioux 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 logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could read 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 talk to 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 an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could lead to you being a person of interest, 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 suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will from time to time 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 ask you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and request 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 ask for 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Portage Des Sioux, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Portage Des Sioux criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Portage Des Sioux, MO
If there’s one thing that Portage Des Sioux drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Portage Des Sioux, 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 were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being written a traffic ticket in Portage Des Sioux, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type 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 removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Portage Des Sioux drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure 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 rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Portage Des Sioux, 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 Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Portage Des Sioux, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Portage Des Sioux, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Portage Des Sioux, 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 eager to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.