Criminal Defense Lawyer Stoddard County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant 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 changed, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. In addition, 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 correct Stoddard County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-made 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 veteran Stoddard County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Stoddard County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Stoddard 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, 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 handle a extensive 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 going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Stoddard 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 talk to your Stoddard 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 lend an ear 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 the right thing, you will be all right 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 think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Stoddard County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene 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 witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A younger or overzealous officer could take your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could make you a suspect, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. 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 sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police want you to sign one of these documents, politely refuse and request to speak 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 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 actually detained 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 in the room, 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 want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Stoddard County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in Stoddard County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Stoddard County traffic ticket, you indirectly 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 usually cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing stiffer penalties.
A growing number of Stoddard County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Stoddard County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence 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 influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our top-notch Stoddard County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given 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 start the process of fixing your Stoddard County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Stoddard County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Stoddard County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Stoddard County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free review of your case. 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 family and friends.