Criminal Defense Lawyer Columbia, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Columbia, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, 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 ideal Columbia criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will develop a smart, successful defense strategy made especially for your own circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Columbia-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Columbia. 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 on your side, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Complete Columbia, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety 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 make the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Columbia criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can talk to your Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, 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 ever get in trouble with 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 is not always the case, 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 wholly possible that you may not believe you should chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Columbia defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When investigators “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 looking for witnesses in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could see your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, 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 lead to you being a person of interest, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel 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 curtails their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, 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 bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these papers, politely decline and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get 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 key 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 Columbia, 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 inquiries without a lawyer in the room, and call a Columbia criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Columbia, MO

If there’s one thing that Columbia drivers do not like 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 Columbia, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Being written a traffic ticket in Columbia, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Columbia traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets usually cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.

More and more Columbia drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Columbia traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our top-notch Columbia traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Columbia, 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 Columbia traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Columbia, MO include:

Contact Experienced Columbia, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a skilled Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case. Our firm is here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.