Criminal Defense Lawyer Clay County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Clay County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates 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 attention and care, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy made especially for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Clay County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit 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 Clay County. We are waiting 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
Clay County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Clay County and Missouri.
A Complete Clay County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide 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 be the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Clay County 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 Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, 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 listen and understand you in your time of need.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be fine and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 100% possible that you may not believe you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Clay County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could take your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. 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, go over 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 murky and could lead to you being a person of interest, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. However, police will from time to time 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 papers, politely decline and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Clay County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a Clay County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Clay County, MO
If there’s one thing that Clay 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 around Clay County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality 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 Clay County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Clay County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 greatly increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be subject to increased penalties.
Many Clay County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Clay County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single 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, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Clay County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Clay 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 getting your Clay County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Clay County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Clay County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a skilled Clay 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 ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.
