Criminal Defense Lawyer Carthage, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Carthage, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct Carthage criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will develop a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran Carthage, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Carthage-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges limit the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Carthage. 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 to work for you, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Carthage, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Carthage, 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

Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Carthage 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 Carthage, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, 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 are ever questioned by 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is 100% possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Carthage defense lawyer is the right decision:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, 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 overzealous officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. 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 emphasizes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, 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 reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. But, 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 want you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and ask 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 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Carthage, 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 interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Carthage criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Carthage, MO

If there’s one thing that Carthage drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Carthage, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (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 given a traffic ticket in Carthage, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Carthage 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 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 once again during this window you could be subject to stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Carthage drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Carthage traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every single one of 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, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier Carthage traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Carthage, 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 Carthage traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Carthage, MO include:

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney
• DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Contact Trusted Carthage, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Carthage, 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 eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.