Criminal Defense Lawyer Clay County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor 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 subject to significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. In addition, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the correct Clay County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will plan out an intelligent, successful defense strategy made especially for your own situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Clay County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges limit the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Clay County. We are waiting 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 contact online today.
Legal Videos
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Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Matthew Brown from Combs Waterkotte answer the most commonly asked questions about …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
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.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Matthew Brown from Combs Waterkotte answer the most commonly asked questions about …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
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.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
A Complete Clay County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety 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 be the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Clay County 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 call your Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener in your time of need.
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Protect Your Life
A felony can have long-term consequences. Act quickly and carefully to protect your future and your livelihood.
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Know Your Next Steps
Wondering what happens after your felony arrest? The skilled Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.
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Contact the experienced Combs Waterkotte felony lawyers now at (314) 900-HELP to get started on your defense.
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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 all right and they will not hassle you further. 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 wholly possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Clay County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved it, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see 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 a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over 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 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 reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their ability to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. But, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police want you to sign one of these papers, politely refuse and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legal 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 Clay County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Clay County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Clay County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Clay County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Clay County, MO
If there’s one thing that Clay County drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Clay County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in Clay County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Clay County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be subject to stiffer penalties.
An increasing number of Clay County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Clay County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down 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 Clay County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Clay 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 start the process of fixing your Clay County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Clay County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Clay County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Clay County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free review of your case. Our firm is ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.
