Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Charles County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. 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 correct St. Charles County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being reduced, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will develop an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced St. Charles County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist St. Charles County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges limit 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 St. Charles County. 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 talk to us online today.
St. Charles County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Charles County and Missouri.
A Full-Service St. Charles County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced St. Charles County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other St. Charles County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can call your St. Charles County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to discuss 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 current situation, 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 think 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 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 chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a St. Charles County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and were in no way involved it, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to mind your words, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could see your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, 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 fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear 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 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 greatly sanctions their ability to get search warrants or force 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 bloodstream. If the police want you to sign one of these documents, politely decline and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get 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 crucial 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. Charles County, 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 questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a St. Charles County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Charles County, MO
If there’s one thing that St. Charles County drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over St. Charles County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being written a traffic ticket in St. Charles County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you decide to pay your St. Charles County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 dramatically increase. Tickets in general cannot be struck from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be subject to stiffer penalties.
Many St. Charles County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Charles County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to every single one of 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 premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our exceptional St. Charles County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in St. Charles 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 St. Charles County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in St. Charles County, MO include:
Contact Trusted St. Charles County, 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 substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned St. Charles County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free case review. Our firm is here to talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.
