Criminal Defense Lawyer Madison County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. In addition, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Madison County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will plan out a smart, successful defense strategy custom-made 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 veteran Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Madison County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce 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 Madison County. We are ready 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 to work for you, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.
Madison County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Madison County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Madison County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide array of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- 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 way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Madison County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, 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 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 hassle you further. However, this is not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Madison County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- 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 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, 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 leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot order 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 force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police want you to sign one of these documents, politely decline and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to request 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Madison County, 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 questions without an attorney being present, and call a Madison County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Madison County, MO
If there’s one thing that Madison County drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Madison County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being given a traffic ticket in Madison County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Madison County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 generally cannot be removed 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 facing stiffer penalties.
A growing number of Madison County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Madison County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Madison County 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 Madison 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 Madison County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Madison County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Madison County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Madison 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 ready to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.
