Criminal Defense Lawyer in Lafayette County, MO
Criminal Defense Lawyer Lafayette County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the correct Lafayette County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will plan out a proven, winning defense strategy tailor-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 veteran Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Lafayette County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Lafayette County. We are ready 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 get in touch with us online today.
Lafayette County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Lafayette County and Missouri.
A Complete Lafayette County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide array of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Lafayette County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can call your Lafayette County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter 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 the right thing, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this is not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Lafayette County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with 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 talking to you in the first place. A rookie or overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request 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 say to the police emphasizes 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 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 heavily sanctions their ability to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will sometimes 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 papers, politely refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to ask for 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 Lafayette County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any questions without an attorney being present, and call a Lafayette County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Lafayette County, MO
If there’s one thing that Lafayette County 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 around Lafayette County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town 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 Lafayette County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Lafayette County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you 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 dramatically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be subject to increased penalties.
More and more Lafayette County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Lafayette County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure 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 error. Most importantly, our premier Lafayette County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Lafayette 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 start the process of getting your Lafayette County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Lafayette County, MO include:
- Homicide Lawyer
- Assault Lawyer
- Rape Defense Lawyer
- Sex Offense Lawyers
- DWI Attorney
- Crime Defense Lawyers
- Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
- Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
Contact Experienced Lafayette 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 skilled Lafayette County, 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 eager to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.