Criminal Defense Lawyer Putnam County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Putnam County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a traffic ticket 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 looking at significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. 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 Putnam County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will plan out a smart, winning defense strategy custom-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 Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Putnam County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Putnam 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Complete Putnam County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, such as:

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

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Putnam 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 Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to listen and understand you in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 100% possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Putnam County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When police “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 looking for witnesses to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could see your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, 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 were involved, 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, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot force 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 limits their power to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police want you to sign one of these papers, politely say no and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate 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 Putnam County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a Putnam County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Putnam County, MO

If there’s one thing that Putnam County drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Putnam County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Getting a traffic ticket in Putnam County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Putnam County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type 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 generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be looking at harsher penalties.

Many Putnam County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Putnam County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to make sure 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 influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our premier Putnam County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Putnam 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 Putnam County traffic ticket fixed.

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

Contact Trusted Putnam County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Putnam 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 charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.