Criminal Defense Lawyer in Des Peres, MO
Criminal Defense Lawyer Des Peres, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the ideal Des Peres criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will plan out a proven, successful defense strategy custom-made for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced 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 unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Des Peres. We are eager 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 talk to 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 experienced Des Peres, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive array 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 make the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike 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 be assured that you can talk to your Des Peres, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 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 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 the right thing, you will be fine 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 call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Des Peres defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, 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 excited officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are 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, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could lead to you being a person of interest, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. 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 sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. 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 request that you sign one of these documents, 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 renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial 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 Des Peres, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say 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 defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Des Peres, MO
If there’s one thing that Des Peres drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Des Peres, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being given a traffic ticket in Des Peres, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Des Peres traffic ticket, you indirectly 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 generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be looking at 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 knowledge to every 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, once paid, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our top-notch Des Peres traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional 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 given a traffic ticket in Des Peres, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your Des Peres traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Des Peres, MO include:
- Homicide Lawyer
- Assault Lawyer
- Rape Defense Lawyer
- Sex Offense Lawyers
- DWI Attorney
- Crime Defense Lawyers
- Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
- Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
Contact Seasoned Des Peres, 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 seasoned Des Peres, 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 here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.