Criminal Defense Lawyer Stoddard County, 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 colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Stoddard County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will map out a smart, winning defense strategy custom-made for your distinct situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Stoddard County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Stoddard County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Stoddard County. We are ready 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Stoddard County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Stoddard County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Stoddard County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Stoddard 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
Finding the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Stoddard 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 contact your Stoddard County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, 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 talk to an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary 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 Stoddard County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could read your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes 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 protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their power to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely decline and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically renders 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Stoddard County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody 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 Stoddard County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Stoddard County, MO
If there’s one thing that Stoddard County drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Stoddard 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 are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being given a traffic ticket in Stoddard County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Stoddard 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 greatly increase. Tickets in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
More and more Stoddard County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Stoddard County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier Stoddard County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 Stoddard 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 begin the process of fixing your Stoddard County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Stoddard County, MO include:
- Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
- Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
- Weapons Crime Attorney
- DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer
Contact Seasoned Stoddard County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Stoddard 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 here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.