Criminal Defense Lawyer Carrollton, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the correct Carrollton criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy made especially for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Carrollton, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Carrollton-area citizens from all walks of life 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 Carrollton. We are eager 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.
Carroll County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Carroll County and Missouri.
A Complete Carrollton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Carrollton, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Carrollton criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can contact your Carrollton, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to discuss 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 dedicated 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 all right 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 entirely possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Carrollton defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- 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 safe 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 talking to you in the first place. An inexperienced or excited officer could read 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 fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to 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 order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will from time to time 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 ask you to sign one of these documents, politely say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good 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 Carrollton, 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 a lawyer by your side, and call a Carrollton criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Carrollton, MO
If there’s one thing that Carrollton drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Carrollton, 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 municipality you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being written a traffic ticket in Carrollton, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Carrollton 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 usually cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to stiffer penalties.
More and more Carrollton drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Carrollton traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our premier Carrollton traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Carrollton, 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 Carrollton traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Carrollton, MO include:
Contact Trusted Carrollton, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Carrollton, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation. Our firm is here to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.
