Criminal Defense Lawyer Cole County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. In addition, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the correct Cole County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will plan out a proven, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your unique situation, and do all that they can to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Cole County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Cole County-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 providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Cole 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Cole County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Cole County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Cole County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Cole County, 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 be the difference between your case going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Cole County 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 talk to your Cole County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. Regardless of 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.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may think 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 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 believe you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Cole County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at 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 your mouth, 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 overzealous officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. 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 leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion 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 require you to grant access to personal information. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely decline and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to obtain 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 Cole County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any questions without an attorney being present, and call a Cole County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Cole County, MO
If there’s one thing that Cole County drivers do not like 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 over Cole County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being written a traffic ticket in Cole County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Cole County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically 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 again during this period you could be looking at stiffer penalties.
A growing number of Cole County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Cole County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even small 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 affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our top-notch Cole County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Cole 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 getting your Cole County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Cole County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Cole County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Cole County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free review of your case. Our firm is eager to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.
