Criminal Defense Lawyer Jefferson City, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be subject to substantial penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. 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 Jefferson City criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will develop an intelligent, 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 Jefferson City, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Jefferson City-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Jefferson City. We are waiting 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.
Cole County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Cole County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Jefferson City, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Jefferson City, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse 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. In contrast with other Jefferson City 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 call your Jefferson City, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, 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 not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Jefferson City 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 were in no way involved 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 looking for witnesses to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could see your statement 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, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, you may want 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 reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their ability to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. However, 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 forms, politely decline and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to request 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 Jefferson City, 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 interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a Jefferson City criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Jefferson City, MO
If there’s one thing that Jefferson City 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 over Jefferson City, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town 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 Jefferson City, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Jefferson City traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree 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 generally cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Jefferson City drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Jefferson City traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our premier Jefferson City traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Jefferson City, MO include:
Contact Experienced Jefferson City, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Jefferson City, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case. Our firm is ready to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.
