Criminal Defense Lawyer Manchester, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the right Manchester criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will plan out a smart, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique 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 Manchester, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Manchester-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges minimize 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 Manchester. We are ready 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
A Complete Manchester, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Manchester, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive variety 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 being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Manchester criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can contact your Manchester, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, 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 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Manchester defense lawyer is the right decision:
- 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 logical 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 overzealous officer could read your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, 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 tell the police leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. 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 heavily curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. However, police will from time to time 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 decline and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing 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 critical 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 Manchester, 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 Manchester criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Manchester, MO
If there’s one thing that Manchester 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 over Manchester, 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 were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Getting a traffic ticket in Manchester, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Manchester traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.
More and more Manchester drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Manchester traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Manchester traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Manchester, 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 Manchester traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Manchester, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Manchester, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Manchester, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free case review. Our firm is ready to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst family and friends.
