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Livingston County, MO

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Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Livingston County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Livingston County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the correct Livingston County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, 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 Livingston County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Livingston County-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 Livingston County. We are eager 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Complete Livingston County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Livingston County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide variety of case types and criminal charges, such as:

Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Livingston County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your Livingston County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a direct line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call 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 outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Livingston County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

  • When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s safe 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 to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could take your statement the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, 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 were involved, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could lead to you being a person of interest, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
  • When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their ability to get 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 tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely decline and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain 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 crucial 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 Livingston 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 in the room, and call a Livingston County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Livingston County, MO

If there’s one thing that Livingston 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 around Livingston 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).

Being written a traffic ticket in Livingston County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Livingston County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 usually cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be facing stiffer penalties.

An increasing number of Livingston County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Livingston County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to every 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, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our exceptional Livingston County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Livingston 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 start the process of fixing your Livingston County traffic ticket.

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

Contact Seasoned Livingston County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Livingston County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free review of your case. Our firm is here to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.

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