Criminal Defense Lawyer Kearney, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Kearney criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will develop a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Kearney, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Kearney-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges minimize 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 Kearney. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.
Clay County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Clay County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Kearney, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Kearney, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Kearney 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 Kearney, 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 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 hassle you further. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Kearney defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s fine 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could read 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, discuss 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 may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel 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 heavily limits their power to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. 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 bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these documents, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Kearney, 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 questions without an attorney being present, and call a Kearney criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Kearney, MO
If there’s one thing that Kearney drivers do not want 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 Kearney, 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 town 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 Kearney, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Kearney traffic ticket, you essentially 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 dramatically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Kearney drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Kearney traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure 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 police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier Kearney traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Kearney, 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 fixing your Kearney traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Kearney, MO include:
Contact Trusted Kearney, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Kearney, 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 indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst your community.
