Criminal Defense Lawyer in McDonald County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer McDonald County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties varying from fines to hours 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 limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the ideal McDonald County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will develop a smart, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced McDonald County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help McDonald County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in McDonald 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 in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Full-Service McDonald County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

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

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Finding the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other McDonald 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 talk to your McDonald County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, 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 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 give you any more trouble. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary 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 McDonald County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When officers “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 talking to you to begin with. A rookie or excited officer could read your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, request 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 leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel 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 sanctions their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally 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 want you to sign one of these documents, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for them, automatically renders 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in McDonald County, MO. If you are ever arrested 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 McDonald County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In McDonald County, MO

If there’s one thing that McDonald County drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over McDonald County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being given a traffic ticket in McDonald County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your McDonald County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you 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 greatly 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 again during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.

A growing number of McDonald County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their McDonald County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure 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 rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional McDonald County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 issued a traffic ticket in McDonald County, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your McDonald County traffic ticket fixed.

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

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned McDonald County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation. Our firm is here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst your community.