Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Joseph, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Joseph, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the ideal St. Joseph 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 ultimate in personal attention and care, who will plan out an intelligent, winning defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran St. Joseph, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help St. Joseph-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in St. Joseph. 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 talk to us online today.

A Full-Service St. Joseph, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable St. Joseph, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide 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 going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other St. Joseph criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your St. Joseph, 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, the time of day, or your present circumstances, 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 are ever questioned by the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be fine 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 talk to an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think that it is necessary to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a St. Joseph defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were just passing through, 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 in the first place. An inexperienced or excited officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to 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 murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their ability to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally 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 want you to sign one of these documents, politely say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain 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 crucial 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 St. Joseph, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a St. Joseph criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Joseph, MO

If there’s one thing that St. Joseph 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. Joseph, 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 town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in St. Joseph, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your St. Joseph traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be staring down 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, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be looking at harsher penalties.

A growing number of St. Joseph drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Joseph traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal intelligence 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 reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our top-notch St. Joseph traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent 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 issued a traffic ticket in St. Joseph, 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 start the process of fixing your St. Joseph traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in St. Joseph, MO include:

• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
• Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer
• Juvenile Defense Lawyer

Contact Trusted St. Joseph, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to substantial felonies, talk to a seasoned St. Joseph, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free review of your case. Our firm is ready to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.