Criminal Defense Lawyer Ripley County, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Ripley County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be subject to significant penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the ideal Ripley County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will develop a smart, winning defense strategy made especially for your own circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Ripley County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Ripley County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Ripley 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 to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Complete Ripley County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Ripley County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

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

Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Ripley County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can talk to your Ripley County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may believe 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Ripley County defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were just passing through, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, ask them 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 fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, you should 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 hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police ask you to sign one of these forms, politely refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to request them, automatically renders 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Ripley County, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Ripley County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Ripley County, MO

If there’s one thing that Ripley County drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Ripley 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 municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Being written a traffic ticket in Ripley County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Ripley 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 greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing increased penalties.

Many Ripley County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Ripley County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our premier Ripley County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, allowing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Ripley County, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Ripley County traffic ticket.

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

• Criminal Defense Lawyer with Payment Plans

Contact Trusted Ripley 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 substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Ripley County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule 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 accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.