Criminal Defense Lawyer Ripley County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at major 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 restricted, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.
Having the correct Ripley County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will develop a proven, successful defense strategy made especially for your distinct circumstances, 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 Ripley County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Ripley County-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing 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 in your corner, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
Ripley County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Ripley County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Ripley County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Ripley 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
Working with the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Ripley County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can talk to your Ripley County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to talk about 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 direct 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 believe 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 trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Ripley County defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and were just passing through, it’s logical 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or excited officer could see your statement the wrong way and consider you 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, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, 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 gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. But, police will sometimes 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 papers, politely refuse and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Ripley 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 inquiries without an attorney being present, 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 behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Ripley County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets 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).
Getting a traffic ticket in Ripley County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you elect to pay your Ripley County traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree 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 usually cannot be struck 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 facing harsher penalties.
Many Ripley County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Ripley County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier Ripley County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 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 getting your Ripley County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Ripley County, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Ripley 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 seasoned Ripley County, 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 ready to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst family and friends.
