Criminal Defense Lawyer Madison County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. In addition, 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 ideal Madison County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your own situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Madison County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Madison County. We are waiting 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 in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
Madison County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Madison County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Madison County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Madison County 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 call your Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to lend an ear 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 give you any more trouble. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary 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 Madison County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When police “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 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 excited officer could take your statement the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, 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 gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their power to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests 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 decline and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain 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 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 Madison 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 inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Madison County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Madison County, MO
If there’s one thing that Madison County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Madison County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, 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 levy property tax on homeowners).
Being written a traffic ticket in Madison County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Madison County 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 drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.
More and more Madison County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Madison County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced 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 error. Best of all, our top-notch Madison County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Madison 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 Madison County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Madison County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Madison County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Madison County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our firm is here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.