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Criminal Defense Lawyer Maries County, MO

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Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Criminal Defense Lawyer Maries County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties ranging from fines to time 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 limited, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the right Maries 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 best in personal care and attention, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Maries County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Maries County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges limit 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 Maries 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 in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Complete Maries County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Maries County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, including:

Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Maries County 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 call your Maries County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, 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 all right 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 trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Maries County defense lawyer is the right move to make:

  • When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s logical 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 talking to you to begin with. A rookie or excited officer could see your statement the wrong way and think that you are 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, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear 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 something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit 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 forms, politely refuse and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get 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 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 Maries County, MO. If you are ever actually detained 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 by your side, and call a Maries County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Maries County, MO

If there’s one thing that Maries County drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Maries County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, 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 levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in Maries County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Maries County traffic ticket, you essentially 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 facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be subject to harsher penalties.

More and more Maries County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Maries County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to every one of its cases, even minor 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, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Maries County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Maries 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 fixing your Maries County traffic ticket.

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

    Contact Seasoned Maries 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 Maries County, 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 eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst your community.

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