Drug Crime Lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO. Even just “simple possession” of an illegal substance can land you in prison. If you’re particularly unlucky, you could face elevated charges of distribution or trafficking. If you don’t work with a knowledgeable Excelsior Estates, MO, criminal defense attorney, you could lose access to potential deals and avenues.
Combs Waterkotte is here to help you avoid that fate. Our team of legal experts is ready to defend against any drug charge in Excelsior Estates, MO, and will help you find the best outcome possible for your case.
If you need an experienced Excelsior Estates, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re just a call away. Talk to a member of our team now at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no strings attached case review.
Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Overview
In this article, we overview what a drug crime lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO, does to protect you, the different drug charges you can face in Missouri, what you need in a drug crimes attorney, and resources available to help people facing drug charges in Excelsior Estates, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- What a Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Charges We Defend and Their Penalties
- Qualities to Look For in Your Excelsior Estates, MO Drug Crime Lawyer
- Treatment and Diversion Programs for Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Charges
- Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
- Talk to a Drug Crime Lawyer in Excelsior Estates, MO, Today
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
What a Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
When you call an experienced Excelsior Estates, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, we start working on your defense immediately. Whatever your case looks like, you need to work with an attorney who will fight for justice and won’t back down.
When you work with our firm, you can expect your drug crime lawyer to do the following:
- Learn Your Story: This is your case, and your well-being should be at the center of it. We’re dedicated to treating you like a person, not a case number.
- Guide You Through Police Interviews: In every case, whether or not you broke the law, the consequences of trying to navigate an interrogation on your own are dire.
- Fight for Bail: Bail is not guaranteed for all crimes in Excelsior Estates, MO, and getting it depends on certain subjective factors. A lawyer can help you ensure that you receive bail, and lower the cost to something reasonable.
- Decide on a Powerful Defense Strategy: Based on the specifics of your case, we’ll work together to come up with a powerful defense strategy to fight the prosecution.
- Explore Plea Deal Options: The prosecutors know that we build every defense as if we’re going to trial, so they know they can’t get away with an unfair offer.
- Defend You at Trial: When you need to go before a judge and/or jury, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will defend you in court.
- Continue to Fight for Your Interests at Sentencing/Appeals/Parole: After a trial, you might go through sentencing, appeal, and/or parole hearings. Our lawyers can stay by your side and help you explore further options.
Tactics We Use to Fight Drug Crime Allegations
Each case is unique and deserves a tailor-made defensive plan. Our attorneys know how to use each of the below criminal defense strategies to maximum effect:
Lack of Intent
If you didn’t mean to break the law, you often can be found innocent. Intentions are critical in drug crime cases. In the wrong circumstances, you can be accused just for being near a controlled substance, even if you’re not guilty of using it. For example, if someone hid drugs in your house without your knowledge, you can argue that you did not have intent, and there for are not guilty of possessing or using them.
Lab Analysis Errors
If the prosecution wants to convict you, the state needs to prove what that substance was. If the evidence chain of custody was broken, or the lab made a mistake in the analysis, we can exploit that to have the evidence thrown out.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Your Fourth Amendment rights restrict the police’s ability to search you for evidence. This means that police cannot search you for evidence with either a warrant or probable cause. Your Excelsior Estates, MO, drug crime lawyer can help you determine if your rights were violated or not.
Entrapment
Similar to above, law enforcement has more rules on what they are allowed to do during investigations. They can observe people breaking the law and then arrest them, but if they go too far in encouraging someone to break the law, this is called entrapment. By claiming entrapment, we can successfully argue for many drug charges to be dropped or dismissed.
Drug possession defenses require specialized expertise, because not every type of criminal defense strategy will work for them. This is because many are vice crimes, so strategies like “self-defense” aren’t applicable.
On the other hand, for certain drug charges, there are defenses available that wouldn’t work for other kinds of charges. For example, let’s look at a hypothetical marijuana criminal charge. While it is now legal in Missouri, adults over 21 cannot carry more than 3oz of marijuana at a time. If you only had 3oz on you, but something was wrong with the law enforcement’s scale, and it showed 3.5oz, you can claim that there was a measurement error and you were actually innocent.
Vice Crimes Definition: Vice crimes include actions that are looked at as immoral, but are often “victimless”. Common examples include using drugs, prostitution, and certain kinds of gambling.
Common Drug Charges in Excelsior Estates, MO
You can face a variety of different drug accusations in Excelsior Estates, MO, and it’s important to work with a reputable drug crime lawyer for any of them. Here are some of the charges we will defend you against:
| Drug Charge Category | Description | Minimum Possible Penalty | Maximum Possible Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | Holding or owning a drug | Class D Misdemeanor | Class D Felony |
| Drug Distribution | Selling or trying to sell a drug | Class E Felony | Class C Felony |
| Drug Trafficking | Possessing or bringing a large amount of drugs into Missouri | Class C Felony | Class A Felony |
| Drug Manufacturing | Growing, mixing, or otherwise making drugs | Class E Felony | Class A Felony |
| DWI With Drugs | Driving while under the influence of drugs | Class B Misdemeanor | Class A Felony (multiple prior offenses) |
| Juvenile Drug Crimes | Any drug charges where the alleged offender was a youth | Varies | Varies |
As outlined above, nearly any drug charge has the potential to be a felony. If you want to avoid years behind bars, it’s imperitive to work with an expert felony drug crime lawyer to protect your freedom.
Federal Drug Charges in Excelsior Estates, MO
In cases where the federal government has decided to take over, building a strong defense is more critical than ever. Federal prosecutors are often even tougher than state prosecutors, and frequently have higher conviction rates. If you are facing federal charges, contact a leading federal drug charges lawyer with the strength to take on the United States Government as soon as possible.
What to Look For in a Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
A Excelsior Estates, MO, drug crimes attorney with skill and knowledge is essential to help you win your case. If you want to maximize your chances of a positive outcome, you need someone who has all of the following:
- Experience in Excelsior Estates, MO, courtrooms
- Care for how you’re doing
- Upfront and open payment structures
- Plans on how to defend against your charges
- A history of positive outcomes for clients
Combs Waterkotte offers everything you need in a high-quality drug crime lawyer. We’re here to help and will battle for your freedom.
Treatment and Diversion Programs for Excelsior Estates, MO, Drug Charges
A trial or a plea deal are the two main ways criminal cases are resolved. With help, though, you might be able to take another route. Your drug crime lawyer advise you on special courts and diversionary programs that can protect your freedom.
While Missouri has several different drug treatment courts, adult treatment courts are the most widely available. In an effort to make more long-lasting, positive change in people’s lives, these courts are focused on helping people defeat addictions, rather than punishing them.
The typical process involves the court identifying if someone is a good candidate for treatment services, working with the defense attorney to ensure the candidate’s rights are respected, and providing rehabilitation services to the person once they’re in the program. Regular testing is required to ensure participants remain drug-free.
Adult treatment court isn’t the only option in Missouri. The state also offers DWI court, family treatment court, and/or juvenile court. These offer some of the same benefits, though they are not as widely available. Contact a drug crime lawyer to learn about what you have access to in Excelsior Estates, MO.
Getting Help: Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
Criminal drug charges are complex. The way laws regulate drug usage don’t always take the realities of addiction into account. But there are ways forward. Below, you can review some resources for assistance with both the addiction layer and the legal layer:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Missouri Treatment Court Reports
- Missouri Drug Laws Index
- Missouri Legal FAQs
- Legal Glossary
- General Missouri Criminal Defense Resources
Substance abuse and related criminal charges can be devestating. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options which can give you another chance.
Get Expert Legal Representation in Excelsior Estates, MO, From a Proven Drug Crime Lawyer
When you partner with our team, you’re working with a proven Excelsior Estates, MO, drug crime lawyer who takes your case seriously. We are ready to let you know how we can help and will craft a defense you can be proud of.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Over 80 years of combined legal experience
- Wide-spread criminal defense resources
- Two former prosecutors who understand how the state thinks
- A reputation for success
Get in touch with our team at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to talk to a drug crime lawyer now.
