Criminal Defense Lawyer Osage County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, 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, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Osage County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will plan out a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Osage County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Osage 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 Osage County. We are eager 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 get in touch with us online today.
Osage County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Osage County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Osage County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Osage County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide array of case types and criminal charges, including:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Osage 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 Osage County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk 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 present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 what they want to hear, 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 talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not believe you should chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Osage County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- 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 mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could see your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. 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 clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could lead to you being a person of interest, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their ability to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. 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 system. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely decline 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 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Osage County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Osage County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Osage County, MO
If there’s one thing that Osage County drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Osage County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, 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).
Being given a traffic ticket in Osage County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Osage County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
Many Osage County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Osage County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our exceptional Osage County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Osage 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 start the process of fixing your Osage County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Osage County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Osage 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 seasoned Osage County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case. Our firm is here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.