Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Louis County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a small one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing major penalties ranging from fines to hours 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 a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal St. Louis County criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will map out a proven, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your own situation, 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. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist St. Louis County-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in St. Louis County. 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 to work for you, call us 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 Full-Service St. Louis County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable St. Louis County, 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
Choosing the right lawyer can make the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other St. Louis County 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. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated 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 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 a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not think that it is necessary to call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a St. Louis County 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 had nothing at all to do with 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. A rookie or overzealous officer could see your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could lead to you being a person of interest, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which allow 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 say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to request them, automatically renders 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. Louis County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a St. Louis County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Louis County, MO
If there’s one thing that St. Louis County drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around St. Louis County, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the town you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in St. Louis County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your St. Louis County 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 removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.
A growing number of St. Louis County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Louis County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest 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 an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our top-notch St. Louis County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in St. Louis County, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your St. Louis County traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in St. Louis County, MO include:
Contact Experienced St. Louis County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a skilled St. Louis County, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is here to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.