Criminal Defense Lawyer Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties ranging from fines to time 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 restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the ideal Bellefontaine Neighbors criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will plan out a smart, winning defense strategy custom-made for your unique situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Bellefontaine Neighbors-area citizens of all kinds 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 unmatched 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact 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 Complete Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
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 Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 call your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a direct line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 give you any more trouble. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not believe you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Bellefontaine Neighbors defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime 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 see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A rookie or excited officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. 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 an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, police will from time to time 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 request that you sign one of these papers, politely say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to ask for them, automatically renders 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Bellefontaine Neighbors criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
If there’s one thing that Bellefontaine Neighbors drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being written a traffic ticket in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Bellefontaine Neighbors traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 in general cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Bellefontaine Neighbors drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our top-notch Bellefontaine Neighbors traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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 getting your Bellefontaine Neighbors traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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 grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Our firm is ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.