Criminal Defense Lawyer West Plains, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. In addition, 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 right West Plains criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will develop a proven, winning defense strategy custom-made for your distinct situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—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 from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges limit the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in West Plains. We are ready 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 on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Howell County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Howell County and Missouri.
A Complete West Plains, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle 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 be the difference between your case being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other West Plains criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can call your West Plains, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct line to your attorney to be a friendly listener in your time of need.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you are ever questioned by 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 situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is 100% possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a West Plains defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When investigators “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 fine 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 read your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can talk to an attorney, go over what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign a document. Police cannot compel 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 heavily curtails their ability to get search warrants or require you to grant access to personal information. But, 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 decline 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 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 defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In West Plains, MO
If there’s one thing that West Plains drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around West Plains, 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 were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being given a traffic ticket in West Plains, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your West Plains traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be facing 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 once again during this period you could be facing 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 unmatched legal knowledge to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our top-notch West Plains traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given 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 begin the process of fixing your West Plains traffic ticket.
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, ranging from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave 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 a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.
