Criminal Defense Lawyer Mississippi County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even jail time. Furthermore, 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 correct Mississippi County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will plan out a proven, successful defense strategy made especially for your own 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 Mississippi County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Mississippi County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Mississippi 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 on your side, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Mississippi County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Mississippi County and Missouri.
A Complete Mississippi County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Mississippi County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide variety 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Mississippi County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can call your Mississippi County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, 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 current situation, 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 think 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 talk to a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly 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 scenarios where calling a Mississippi County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could read your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call 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 less obvious 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 genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police ask you to sign one of these documents, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get 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 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 Mississippi 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 interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Mississippi County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Mississippi County, MO
If there’s one thing that Mississippi 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 around Mississippi County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality 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 Mississippi County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Mississippi County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing stiffer penalties.
An increasing number of Mississippi County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Mississippi County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled 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 reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, 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 top-notch Mississippi County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Mississippi 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 begin the process of fixing your Mississippi County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Mississippi County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Mississippi County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to serious felonies, talk to a skilled Mississippi 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 ready 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.
