Criminal Defense Lawyer Scott County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours 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 correct Scott County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct circumstances, 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 Scott County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Scott 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 unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Scott County. 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 talk to us online today.
Scott County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Scott County and Missouri.
A Complete Scott County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Scott 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
Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Scott County 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 call your Scott County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may believe 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 wholly 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 Scott County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were at 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 mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss 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 less obvious and could possibly place you under suspicion, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. 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 heavily limits their ability to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these documents, politely say no and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Scott 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 interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Scott County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Scott County, MO
If there’s one thing that Scott County drivers do not like 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 Scott County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being written a traffic ticket in Scott County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Scott County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be subject to stiffer penalties.
More and more Scott County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Scott County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop 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 affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our exceptional Scott 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 written a traffic ticket in Scott 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 fixing your Scott County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Scott County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Scott County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Scott County, 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 accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.
