Criminal Defense Lawyer Putnam 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 forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. In addition, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Putnam County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will develop a proven, successful defense strategy made especially for your own situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Putnam County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.
Legal Videos
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
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 …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
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.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
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 …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
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 …
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri
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 …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
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.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
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 …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
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 Complete Putnam County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide 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 favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Putnam 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 call your Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to listen and understand you in your time of need.
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Protect Your Life
A felony can have long-term consequences. Act quickly and carefully to protect your future and your livelihood.
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Know Your Next Steps
Wondering what happens after your felony arrest? The skilled Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.
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Contact the experienced Combs Waterkotte felony lawyers now at (314) 900-HELP to get started on your defense.
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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 all right 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 speak with a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Putnam County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. An inexperienced or excited officer could see your statement the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police emphasizes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could lead to you being a person of interest, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot compel 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 sanctions their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. But, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain 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 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 Putnam 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 questions without an attorney being present, and call a Putnam County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Putnam County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Putnam County and Missouri.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Putnam County, MO
If there’s one thing that Putnam County drivers do not want to see behind them, 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 law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a declining 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 elect to pay your Putnam County traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree 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 in general cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be subject to stiffer penalties.
More and more Putnam County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Putnam County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our exceptional Putnam County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing 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 stay on 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 charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a seasoned Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free consultation. Our firm is eager to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.
