Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Peters, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a small one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be subject to major penalties varying from fines to time 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 restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal St. Peters criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will develop a smart, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced St. Peters, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist St. Peters-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in St. Peters. 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 get in touch with 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 Complete St. Peters, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable St. Peters, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive 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 favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other St. Peters 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 contact your St. Peters, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, 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 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 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 call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not think that it is necessary to 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. Peters defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s safe 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 younger or excited officer could take your account the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. 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 murky and could make you a suspect, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot order 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 heavily limits their ability to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. 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 request that you sign one of these forms, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to request them, automatically renders 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. Peters, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a St. Peters criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In St. Peters, MO
If there’s one thing that St. Peters drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over St. Peters, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the town you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in St. Peters, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your St. Peters traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity 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 expunged 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 stiffer penalties.
Many St. Peters drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their St. Peters traffic ticket lawyer, and for good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure 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. Best of all, our top-notch St. Peters 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 written a traffic ticket in St. Peters, 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 begin the process of getting your St. Peters traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in St. Peters, MO include:
Contact Seasoned St. Peters, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable St. Peters, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our firm is here to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.
