Criminal Defense Lawyer Lewis County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be subject to significant 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 restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Lewis County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will plan out an intelligent, successful 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 veteran Lewis County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Lewis County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce 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 Lewis County. 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 talk to us online today.
Lewis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Lewis County and Missouri.
A Complete Lewis County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Lewis County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse 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 make the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Lewis County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can contact your Lewis County, 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, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener in your time of need.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be fine 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 talk to a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Lewis County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene 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 see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, 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 were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes 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, it’s a good idea 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 gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally 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 request that you sign one of these papers, politely refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically renders 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Lewis County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Lewis County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Lewis County, MO
If there’s one thing that Lewis County drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Lewis County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Getting a traffic ticket in Lewis County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Lewis County traffic ticket, you effectively 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 staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be facing increased penalties.
More and more Lewis County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Lewis County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our exceptional Lewis County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Lewis County, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Lewis County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Lewis County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Lewis County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a skilled Lewis County, 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 talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst family and friends.
