Criminal Defense Lawyer in DeKalb County, MO
Criminal Defense Lawyer DeKalb County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal DeKalb County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-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 experienced DeKalb County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help DeKalb County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges minimize 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 DeKalb County. We are ready 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
A Full-Service DeKalb County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced DeKalb 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
Finding the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other DeKalb 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 contact your DeKalb County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. 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 are ever questioned by 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 speak with a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a DeKalb County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can talk to 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 an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could make you a suspect, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. 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 greatly sanctions their ability to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police want you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in DeKalb County, MO. If you are ever actually detained 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 DeKalb County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In DeKalb County, MO
If there’s one thing that DeKalb County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around DeKalb County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being written a traffic ticket in DeKalb County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your DeKalb County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 greatly increase. Tickets usually cannot be expunged 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 looking at harsher penalties.
A growing number of DeKalb County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their DeKalb County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched 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 reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier DeKalb County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in DeKalb County, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your DeKalb County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in DeKalb County, MO include:
- Assault Lawyer
- Rape Defense Lawyer
- Sex Offense Lawyers
- DWI Attorney
- Crime Defense Lawyers
- Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
- Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Juvenile Defense Lawyer
Contact Seasoned DeKalb County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable DeKalb County, 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 ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.