Criminal Defense Lawyer in Hannibal, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Hannibal, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, 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 Hannibal criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will develop an intelligent, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your own circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran 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 freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Hannibal. We are eager 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 contact online today.

A Complete Hannibal, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Finding the right lawyer can make 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 centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can contact your Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of 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 are ever questioned by 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 speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is entirely possible that you may not believe you should 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 officers “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 watch what you say, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. A younger or excited officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, go over 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 possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect 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 grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. But, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these papers, politely say no and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a good 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 logical 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 interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Hannibal criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Hannibal, MO

If there’s one thing that Hannibal drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Hannibal, 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 municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being given a traffic ticket in Hannibal, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Hannibal traffic ticket, you indirectly 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 in general cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be subject to harsher penalties.

More and more Hannibal drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Hannibal traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure 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 not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our top-notch Hannibal traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued 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.

Contact Trusted Hannibal, 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 substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Hannibal, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.