Criminal Defense Lawyer Chesterfield, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be subject to substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. In addition, 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 ideal Chesterfield 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 utmost in personal care and attention, who will develop a smart, winning defense strategy custom-made for your unique circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Chesterfield, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Chesterfield-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Chesterfield. We are ready 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 to work for you, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
A Complete Chesterfield, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Chesterfield, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take 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 way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Chesterfield 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 talk to your Chesterfield, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated 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 speak with a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Chesterfield defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime 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 see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, request 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 say to the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, you should 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 genuine hunch 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 data. 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 system. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely say no and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Chesterfield, MO
If there’s one thing that Chesterfield drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Chesterfield, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (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 written a traffic ticket in Chesterfield, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Chesterfield traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets generally 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 window you could be looking at stiffer penalties.
A growing number of Chesterfield drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Chesterfield traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled 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, 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 top-notch Chesterfield traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Chesterfield, 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 getting your Chesterfield traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Chesterfield, MO include:
Contact Trusted Chesterfield, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Chesterfield, 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 talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-won reputation amongst family and friends.
