Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Louis, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Louis, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, 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, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the right St. Louis criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will plan out a proven, successful defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The veteran St. Louis, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help St. Louis-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 unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in St. Louis. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact online today.

A Complete St. Louis, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled St. Louis, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Finding 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. Louis 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. Louis, 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 lend an ear in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this is not always the case, 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 believe you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a St. Louis defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When investigators “just want to ask questions”. If you were at a crime scene and were just passing through, it’s safe 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 in the first place. A younger or excited officer could see your statement 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 a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police clearly establishes 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 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 gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly sanctions their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal data. But, police will from time to time 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 refuse and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to ask for 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 undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in St. Louis, 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 questions without a lawyer in the room, and call a St. Louis criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Louis, MO

If there’s one thing that St. Louis drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around St. Louis, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in St. Louis, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your St. Louis traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over once again during this period you could be looking at increased penalties.

An increasing number of St. Louis drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Louis traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our exceptional St. Louis traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in St. Louis, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your St. Louis traffic ticket fixed.

Contact Seasoned St. Louis, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, from a small traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable St. Louis, 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 hard-won reputation amongst family and friends.