Criminal Defense Lawyer Macon County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Also, 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 Macon County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will map out a smart, successful defense strategy made especially for your own situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Macon County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Macon County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize 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 Macon 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.
Macon County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Macon County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Macon County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Macon 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 being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Macon 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 Macon County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct line to your attorney to lend an ear 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 not always the case, 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 entirely possible that you may not think you need to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Macon County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- 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 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could take your statement 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 talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a 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 protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. 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 system. If the police ask you to sign one of these papers, politely say no and ask to talk 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 makes 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Macon County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer in the room, and call a Macon County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Macon County, MO
If there’s one thing that Macon County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Macon County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, 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).
Being written a traffic ticket in Macon County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Macon County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be looking at increased penalties.
Many Macon County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Macon County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure 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. Most importantly, our top-notch Macon County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Macon County, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your Macon County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Macon County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Macon County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Macon 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 here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.