Criminal Defense Lawyer Newton County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small 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 affected, if found guilty you will be facing significant 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 limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Newton County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy custom-made for your distinct situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Newton County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Newton County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Newton 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.
Newton County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Newton County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Newton County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Newton County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide 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 way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Newton County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can call your Newton County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, 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 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 is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call an experienced 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 Newton County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved it, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could read your account 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 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 not clear 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 something. Police cannot compel 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 require you to grant access to personal information. But, 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 documents, politely refuse and request to talk 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 makes them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial 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 Newton County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Newton County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Newton County, MO
If there’s one thing that Newton County drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Newton County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in Newton County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Newton County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you 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 expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing increased penalties.
More and more Newton County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Newton County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional Newton County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Newton County, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Newton County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Newton County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Newton County, 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 substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Newton 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 eager to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.