Criminal Defense Lawyer Springfield, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Springfield, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties varying from fines to time 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 restricted, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the ideal Springfield criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will develop a proven, winning defense strategy made especially for your own situation, 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 Springfield, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Springfield-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges limit the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Springfield. We are ready 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Complete Springfield, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The experienced Springfield, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive variety 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Springfield criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can talk to your Springfield, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, 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 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 fine and they will not hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, 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 100% possible that you may not think that it is necessary to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Springfield defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• 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 witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses in the first place. A rookie or excited officer could take your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, you may want to 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 reasonable suspicion 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 force you to grant access to personal information. However, 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 request that you sign one of these papers, politely refuse and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to request them, automatically makes 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 logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Springfield, 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 a lawyer by your side, and call a Springfield criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Springfield, MO

If there’s one thing that Springfield drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Springfield, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Being written a traffic ticket in Springfield, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Springfield traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be subject to increased penalties.

More and more Springfield drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Springfield traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier Springfield traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Springfield, 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 Springfield traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in Springfield, MO include:

Contact Seasoned Springfield, 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 substantial felonies, talk to a skilled Springfield, 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 ready to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.