Criminal Defense Lawyer Butler County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time 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 being unable to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Butler County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will develop a proven, successful defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Butler County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Butler County-area citizens of all kinds 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 Butler County. We are eager to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-strings-attached 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 talk to us online today.
Butler County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Butler County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Butler County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Butler County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive variety 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 make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Butler 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 Butler 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, what time it is, or your current situation, 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 believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Butler County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s safe 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their power to obtain search warrants or make you 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 bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these papers, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is critical 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 Butler County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Butler County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Butler County, MO
If there’s one thing that Butler County drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Butler County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in Butler County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Butler County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you 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 drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Butler County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Butler County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced 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 not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier Butler County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Butler County, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Butler County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Butler County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Butler County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Butler County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case. Our firm is here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.