Criminal Defense Lawyer Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Bellefontaine Neighbors criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will map out an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-made for your own situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Bellefontaine Neighbors-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors. We are eager 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive array 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Bellefontaine Neighbors criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can contact your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 fine and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Bellefontaine Neighbors defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When police “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 your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their ability to get search warrants or require you to 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 bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely say no and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a good 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a Bellefontaine Neighbors criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
If there’s one thing that Bellefontaine Neighbors drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Getting a traffic ticket in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Bellefontaine Neighbors traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically 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 increased penalties.
Many Bellefontaine Neighbors drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 issued a traffic ticket in Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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 fixing your Bellefontaine Neighbors traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO include:
Contact Trusted Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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 here to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.