Criminal Defense Lawyer Saline County, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be subject to major penalties varying from fines to hours 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 being unable to vote or own a firearm.
Having the correct Saline County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out an intelligent, successful defense strategy custom-made for your unique circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Saline County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Saline County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Saline County. We are waiting 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 get in touch with us online today.
Saline County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Saline County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Saline County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Saline County, 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
Working with the right lawyer can make the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Saline County criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can contact your Saline County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may believe 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 talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Saline 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 had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could read your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their ability to get 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 work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely decline and ask 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 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 Saline 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 interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a Saline County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Saline County, MO
If there’s one thing that Saline County drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Saline County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being written a traffic ticket in Saline County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Saline County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of 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 generally cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing increased penalties.
A growing number of Saline County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Saline County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, 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 Saline County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Saline County, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your Saline County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Saline County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Saline County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to substantial felonies, talk to a skilled Saline 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 eager to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.