Criminal Defense Lawyer Phelps County, MO. Getting charged with 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 subject to significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. In addition, 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 ideal Phelps 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 punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will plan out a smart, successful defense strategy made especially for your own 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 Phelps County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Phelps County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Phelps 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
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Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Matthew Brown from Combs Waterkotte answer the most commonly asked questions about …

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Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.

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Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …

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St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
A Full-Service Phelps County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Phelps 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
Finding 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 Phelps County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. 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 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 lend an ear 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 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 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 vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Phelps County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved it, it’s safe 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 overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, 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 suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will from time to time 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 want you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get 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 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, tell them that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a Phelps County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Phelps County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Phelps County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Phelps County, MO
If there’s one thing that Phelps County drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Phelps County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being written a traffic ticket in Phelps County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Phelps County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 dramatically increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be facing stiffer penalties.
A growing number of Phelps County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Phelps County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal knowledge to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our premier 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 affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Phelps County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Phelps County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Phelps County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave 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 set up a free review of your case. Our firm is ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.

