Criminal Defense Lawyer O’Fallon, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer O’Fallon, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be subject to significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the ideal O’Fallon criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will map out an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced O’Fallon, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help O’Fallon-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in O’Fallon. We are waiting 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.

A Full-Service O’Fallon, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable O’Fallon, 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

Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other O’Fallon 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 O’Fallon, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, 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 ever get in trouble with the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 that it is necessary to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a O’Fallon defense lawyer is the right decision:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were just passing through, 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 talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could read your statement 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 talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, 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 murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work 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 refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to ask for 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in O’Fallon, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer by your side, and call a O’Fallon criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In O’Fallon, MO

If there’s one thing that O’Fallon drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around O’Fallon, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in O’Fallon, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your O’Fallon traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity 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 removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be subject to increased penalties.

More and more O’Fallon drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their O’Fallon traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional O’Fallon 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 issued a traffic ticket in O’Fallon, 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 start the process of fixing your O’Fallon traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in O’Fallon, MO include:

• Criminal Defense Lawyer with Payment Plans

Contact Trusted O’Fallon, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned O’Fallon, 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 here to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.