Criminal Defense Lawyer Carroll County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the right Carroll County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-made for your own circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Carroll County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Carroll County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Carroll County. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
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Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.

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A Full-Service Carroll County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Carroll County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide 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 make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Carroll 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 Carroll County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day 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 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 believe 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 is not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Carroll County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s logical 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. A rookie or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you 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 were involved, and make sure what you tell the police leaves no doubt 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 safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. 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 heavily limits their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police ask you to sign one of these documents, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically makes 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Carroll 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 interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a Carroll County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Carroll County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Carroll County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Carroll County, MO
If there’s one thing that Carroll 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 Carroll County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in Carroll County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Carroll County traffic ticket, you effectively 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 staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be subject to harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Carroll County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Carroll County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our top-notch Carroll 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 written a traffic ticket in Carroll 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 begin the process of getting your Carroll County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Carroll County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Carroll County, 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 serious felonies, talk to a skilled Carroll County, 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 talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.

