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Criminal Defense Lawyer Smithville, MO

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Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Criminal Defense Lawyer Smithville, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, 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 right Smithville criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not completely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out a smart, winning defense strategy made especially for your distinct 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 veteran Smithville, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Smithville-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit 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 Smithville. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Full-Service Smithville, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Smithville, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a wide array of case types and criminal charges, such as:

Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Smithville 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 talk to your Smithville, 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 be a friendly listener in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you are ever questioned by the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be all right and they will not give you any more trouble. 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 entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Smithville 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 in no way involved it, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could take 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 were involved, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were an innocent 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 safeguard your rights.
  • When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel 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 heavily sanctions their power to obtain search warrants or require you to 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 system. If the police want you to sign one of these forms, politely say no 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 key 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 Smithville, 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 questions without a lawyer in the room, and call a Smithville criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Smithville, MO

If there’s one thing that Smithville drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Smithville, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (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 Smithville, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Smithville 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 looking at 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 at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing stiffer penalties.

A growing number of Smithville drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Smithville traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier Smithville traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Smithville, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Smithville traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in Smithville, MO include:

Contact Seasoned Smithville, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to serious felonies, talk to a skilled Smithville, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case. Our firm is eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.

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