Criminal Defense Lawyer West Plains, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer West Plains, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, 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 substantial penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the ideal West Plains criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not completely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will plan out a proven, winning defense strategy custom-made for your own situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help West Plains-area citizens of all kinds who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in West Plains. 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Complete West Plains, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled West Plains, 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

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other West Plains 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 talk to your West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to talk 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 listen and understand you in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, 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 believe you should call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a West Plains 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 in no way involved it, 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 talking to you in the first place. A younger or excited officer could take 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, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear 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 a document. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their ability to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which permit 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 say no and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a good 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 West Plains, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer by your side, and call a West Plains criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In West Plains, MO

If there’s one thing that West Plains 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 West Plains, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the town you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Getting a traffic ticket in West Plains, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your West Plains traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at 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 again during this window you could be subject to increased penalties.

A growing number of West Plains drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their West Plains traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to every one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, do not stay on your record or influence insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Best of all, our premier West Plains traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, giving you access to quality legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in West Plains, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your West Plains traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in West Plains, MO include:

Contact Trusted West Plains, 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 serious felonies, talk to a skilled West Plains, 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 here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst your community.