Criminal Defense Lawyer Bates County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Bates County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. In addition, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the ideal Bates County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will map out a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique circumstances, and do everything in their power 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 assist Bates County-area citizens from all walks of life 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 Bates 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 contact online today.

A Full-Service Bates County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Bates County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive array of case types and criminal charges, such as:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Bates County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can talk to your Bates County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. Regardless of 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 ever get in trouble with the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, 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 call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Bates County defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, 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 lead to you being a person of interest, it’s a good idea to 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 grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit 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 papers, politely refuse and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get 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 crucial to know your rights at all times.
• When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Bates 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 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 on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Bates County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, 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).

Getting a traffic ticket in Bates County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Bates County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity 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 expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.

More and more Bates County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Bates County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched 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 brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our exceptional Bates County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written 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 begin the process of fixing your Bates County traffic ticket.

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

Contact Trusted Bates County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable 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 review of your case. Our firm is ready to talk 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.