Criminal Defense Lawyer DeKalb County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the ideal DeKalb County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will plan out a smart, winning defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced DeKalb County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help DeKalb County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in DeKalb County. We are eager 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 in your corner, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
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A Complete DeKalb County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable DeKalb County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety 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 make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other DeKalb County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can contact your DeKalb County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a direct line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 give you any more trouble. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a DeKalb County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could take your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. 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 emphasizes that you were just a 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 a document. 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 greatly limits their power to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit 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 papers, politely say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting 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 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 DeKalb County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a DeKalb County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
DeKalb County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in DeKalb County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In DeKalb County, MO
If there’s one thing that DeKalb County drivers do not like 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 DeKalb County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, 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 DeKalb County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your DeKalb County traffic ticket, you essentially 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 drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.
An increasing number of DeKalb County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their DeKalb County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional DeKalb County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in DeKalb County, MO include:
Contact Trusted DeKalb County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned DeKalb County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our firm is ready to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.

