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Bates County, MO

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Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Bates County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Bates County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the right Bates County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out a proven, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Bates County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Bates County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Bates County. 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Complete Bates County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Bates County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, including:

Working with the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Bates County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your Bates County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to listen and understand you in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with 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 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 100% possible that you may not think you need to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Bates County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

  • When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s safe 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 talking to you in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them 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 tell the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could possibly place you under suspicion, 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 reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police ask you to sign one of these papers, politely refuse 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 renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is critical 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 Bates County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any questions without an attorney being present, and call a Bates County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Bates County, MO

If there’s one thing that Bates County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Bates County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in Bates County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Bates County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.

An increasing number of Bates County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Bates 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 tirelessly 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 influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our exceptional Bates County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Bates 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 start the process of getting your Bates County traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Bates County, MO include:

Contact Seasoned Bates 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 serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Bates 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 eager to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.

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