Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Ann, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the right St. Ann criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will develop a smart, winning defense strategy made especially for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran St. Ann, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist St. Ann-area citizens of all kinds who are facing 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 St. Ann. We are eager 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
A Complete St. Ann, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced St. Ann, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, such as:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
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 St. Ann criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your St. Ann, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, 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 believe that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, 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 speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a St. Ann defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved 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 looking for witnesses to begin with. An inexperienced or excited officer could see your account the wrong way and think that you are a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. 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 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 safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their ability to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. But, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police request that you sign one of these papers, politely decline and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in St. Ann, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a St. Ann criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Ann, MO
If there’s one thing that St. Ann drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around St. Ann, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (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).
Getting a traffic ticket in St. Ann, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your St. Ann traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck 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 looking at harsher penalties.
More and more St. Ann drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Ann traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Most importantly, our premier St. Ann traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in St. Ann, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your St. Ann traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in St. Ann, MO include:
Contact Seasoned St. Ann, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, talk to a knowledgeable St. Ann, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free consultation. Our firm is eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.
