Criminal Defense Lawyer Putnam County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the ideal Putnam County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being reduced, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will develop a smart, successful defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Putnam 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 providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Putnam 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Putnam County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Putnam County and Missouri.
A Complete Putnam County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Putnam County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse 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 make the difference between your case going in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike 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 at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. 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 think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call 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 vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Putnam County defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A rookie or excited officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. 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 tell the police leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, 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 grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly limits their ability to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Putnam County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody 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 by your side, and call a Putnam County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up 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 enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town 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 Putnam County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide 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 severity of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically 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 again during this window you could be looking at harsher penalties.
More and more Putnam County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Putnam County traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure 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 affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our top-notch Putnam County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued 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 fixing your Putnam County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Putnam County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Putnam County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial 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 ready to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.
