Criminal Defense Lawyer Greene County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be subject to substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. In addition, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the correct Greene County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will develop a proven, winning defense strategy custom-made for your own situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Greene County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Greene County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce 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 Greene 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 get in touch with us online today.
Greene County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Greene County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Greene County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Greene County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide variety 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Greene 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 call your Greene County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, 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 the right thing, you will be fine and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Greene County 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 fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, 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 see your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. 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, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion 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 require you to grant access to personal data. However, police will from time to time 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 request that you sign one of these documents, politely decline and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Greene County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a Greene County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Greene County, MO
If there’s one thing that Greene County drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Greene County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (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 Greene County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Greene County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be expunged 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 stiffer penalties.
Many Greene County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Greene County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop 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 affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our top-notch Greene 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 given a traffic ticket in Greene County, 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 getting your Greene County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Greene County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Greene 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 seasoned Greene County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free case review. 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 family and friends.