Criminal Defense Lawyer Cape Girardeau, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change 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 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 the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the correct Cape Girardeau criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will map out a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Cape Girardeau, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Cape Girardeau-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 offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Cape Girardeau. 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Cape Girardeau County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Cape Girardeau County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Cape Girardeau, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Cape Girardeau, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse array 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 be the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Cape Girardeau criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can talk to your Cape Girardeau, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss 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 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may believe 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 talk to a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Cape Girardeau 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 watch what you say, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your statement the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, discuss 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 not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want 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 genuine hunch 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 get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work 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 decline and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain 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 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 Cape Girardeau, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any questions without an attorney being present, and call a Cape Girardeau criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Cape Girardeau, MO
If there’s one thing that Cape Girardeau drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Cape Girardeau, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being given a traffic ticket in Cape Girardeau, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Cape Girardeau traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be subject to increased penalties.
An increasing number of Cape Girardeau drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Cape Girardeau traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down 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 exceptional Cape Girardeau traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Cape Girardeau, 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 Cape Girardeau traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Cape Girardeau, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Cape Girardeau, 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 skilled Cape Girardeau, 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 here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.
