Criminal Defense Lawyer Richmond, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. 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 correct Richmond criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will map out a smart, winning defense strategy made especially for your unique circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Richmond, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Richmond-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges reduce 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 Richmond. 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 contact online today.
Ray County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Ray County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Richmond, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Richmond, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, including:
- 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 Richmond 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 Richmond, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct 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 what they want to hear, you will be fine 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 call an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should 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 Richmond defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near 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 talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your statement 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 call an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a genuine hunch 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 require you to grant access to personal information. But, police will from time to time 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 documents, politely say no and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to request 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Richmond, 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 an attorney being present, and call a Richmond criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Richmond, MO
If there’s one thing that Richmond drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Richmond, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in Richmond, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Richmond traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing increased penalties.
More and more Richmond drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Richmond traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Richmond traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Richmond, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Richmond traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Richmond, MO include:
Contact Experienced Richmond, 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 substantial felonies, talk to a skilled Richmond, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is eager to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.
