Criminal Defense Lawyer Buchanan County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be subject to major penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the correct Buchanan County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will develop a smart, winning defense strategy made especially for your unique circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Buchanan County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Buchanan County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Buchanan County. We are ready 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 to work for you, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
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A Full-Service Buchanan County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Buchanan County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Finding the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to lend an ear 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 the right thing, 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 speak with an experienced 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 result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Buchanan County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could read your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request 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 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 force you to do anything unless they have a genuine hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, 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 bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these papers, politely refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting 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 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 Buchanan County, 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 a lawyer by your side, and call a Buchanan County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Buchanan County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Buchanan County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Buchanan County, MO
If there’s one thing that Buchanan County drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Buchanan County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in Buchanan County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Buchanan County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at stiffer penalties.
Many Buchanan County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Buchanan County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our top-notch Buchanan County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Buchanan County, 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 Buchanan County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Buchanan County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Buchanan County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Buchanan County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is eager to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.

