Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. John, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. John, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a moving violation or DWI, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. In addition, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including being unable to vote or own a firearm.

Having the correct St. John criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not completely 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 an intelligent, successful defense strategy made especially for your own 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 St. John, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist St. John-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 St. John. 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 in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Complete St. John, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable St. John, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse variety 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 going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other St. John criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can talk to your St. John, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about 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 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is 100% possible that you may not believe you should 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. John defense lawyer is the right move to make:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, it’s fine 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 looking for witnesses to begin with. A younger or overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, 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 say to the police emphasizes that you were just a 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 protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order 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 curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or require you to 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 system. If the police request that you sign one of these forms, politely say no and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get 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 critical 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. John, 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 by your side, and call a St. John criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. John, MO

If there’s one thing that St. John drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over St. John, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town 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. John, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your St. John 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 drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be looking at harsher penalties.

Many St. John drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. John traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier St. John traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in St. John, 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 St. John traffic ticket.

Contact Experienced St. John, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable St. John, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free consultation. Our firm is eager to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.