Criminal Defense Lawyer Howard County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Howard County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct Howard County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Howard County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Howard County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges limit 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 Howard County. We are ready 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 Complete Howard County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Howard County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse 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 be the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Howard County 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 Howard County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be fine 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 talk to an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Howard County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could take 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 fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police leaves no doubt 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, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect 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 provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. But, police will sometimes 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 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 key 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 Howard County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer by your side, and call a Howard County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Howard County, MO

If there’s one thing that Howard County drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Howard County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Getting a traffic ticket in Howard County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Howard County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be facing stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Howard County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Howard County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen 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, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our exceptional Howard County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Howard County, 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 Howard County traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Howard County, MO include:

Contact Trusted Howard County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Howard County, 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 eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.