Criminal Defense Lawyer Phelps County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Phelps County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. 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 correct Phelps County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will map out a smart, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Phelps County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Phelps County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Phelps County. 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Phelps County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Phelps County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

• 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 going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Phelps 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 contact your Phelps County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct line to your attorney to be a friendly listener 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 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 an experienced 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 result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Phelps County 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 in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could take your account 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 the officer. 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 say to the police leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow 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 papers, politely decline and ask 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 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 Phelps County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Phelps County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Phelps County, MO

If there’s one thing that Phelps County drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Phelps County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Getting a traffic ticket in Phelps County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your Phelps County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 dramatically increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at stiffer penalties.

A growing number of Phelps County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Phelps County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our top-notch Phelps County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Phelps 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 Phelps County traffic ticket.

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

Contact Experienced Phelps County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Phelps County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free review of your case. Our firm is ready 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.