Criminal Defense Lawyer Des Peres, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be subject to significant penalties varying from fines to hours 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 limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the correct Des Peres criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy custom-made for your distinct 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 Des Peres, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Des Peres-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Des Peres. 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 on your side, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Des Peres, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Des Peres, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive array 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 make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Des Peres criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can talk to your Des Peres, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a direct 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 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 a rare occurrence, 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 think you need to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Des Peres defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine 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 overzealous officer could read your account 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, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious 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 order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely decline and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a good 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Des Peres, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer in the room, and call a Des Peres criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Des Peres, MO
If there’s one thing that Des Peres 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 Des Peres, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in Des Peres, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Des Peres traffic ticket, you effectively 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 facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general 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 subject to increased penalties.
More and more Des Peres drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Des Peres traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to all 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, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our top-notch Des Peres traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Des Peres, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Des Peres traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Des Peres, MO include:
Contact Experienced Des Peres, 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 serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Des Peres, 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 talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.