Criminal Defense Lawyer Belton, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, 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 Belton criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will map out a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your unique situation, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Belton, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Belton-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Belton. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Legal Videos

Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …

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What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …

Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Matthew Brown from Combs Waterkotte answer the most commonly asked questions about …

How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.

Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …

Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
A Full-Service Belton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Belton, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Belton 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 Belton, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, the time of day, 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 fine 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 call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Belton defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were just passing through, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. A younger or excited officer could see your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, 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 say to the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could make you a suspect, you may want 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 hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these forms, 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 good reason to request them, automatically makes 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 Belton, MO. If you are ever arrested 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 Belton criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Cass County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Cass County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Belton, MO
If there’s one thing that Belton drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Belton, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (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 Belton, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Belton traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be facing harsher penalties.
More and more Belton drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Belton traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional Belton traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Belton, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Belton traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Belton, MO include:
Contact Experienced Belton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Belton, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free case review. Our firm is ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.

