Criminal Defense Lawyer Hannibal, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Hannibal, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct Hannibal criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will map out an intelligent, successful defense strategy custom-made for your own situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Hannibal-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 unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Hannibal. 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Hannibal, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide array 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 be the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Hannibal 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 call your Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a direct 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 think 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Hannibal defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were just passing through, 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 to begin with. A younger or overzealous officer could take your account the wrong way and consider you 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 murky and could make you a suspect, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a genuine hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their power to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests 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 say no and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting 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 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 Hannibal, 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 inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Hannibal criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Hannibal, MO

If there’s one thing that Hannibal 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 Hannibal, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (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 written a traffic ticket in Hannibal, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Hannibal traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing stiffer penalties.

A growing number of Hannibal drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Hannibal traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional Hannibal traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Hannibal, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Hannibal traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Hannibal, MO include:

Contact Experienced Hannibal, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation. Our firm is here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.