Criminal Defense Lawyer in Carthage, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Carthage, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, 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 Carthage criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, 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 a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your own situation, 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 from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce 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 Carthage. 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Carthage, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Carthage, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide array of case types and criminal charges, including:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Carthage criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can contact your Carthage, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, 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 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 hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

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

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A younger or excited officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, 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 make you a suspect, you should 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 suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their ability to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes 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 ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to request them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial 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 Carthage, 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 an attorney being present, and call a Carthage criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Carthage, MO

If there’s one thing that Carthage drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Carthage, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in Carthage, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Carthage traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 dramatically increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed 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 looking at stiffer penalties.

Many Carthage drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Carthage traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly 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. Best of all, our exceptional Carthage traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional 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 given a traffic ticket in Carthage, 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 fixing your Carthage traffic ticket.

Contact Seasoned Carthage, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Carthage, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our firm is here to talk 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.