Drug Crime Lawyer in Adrian, MO. Even just “simple possession” of an illegal substance can land you in prison. If you’re particularly unlucky, you could face manufacturing allegations, and up to life in prison. If you don’t work with a proven Adrian, MO, criminal defense lawyer, you could easily get lost in the complex legal system.
Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to ensuring our clients get fair, expert legal representation. Your attorney from Combs Waterkotte is ready to defend against any drug charge in Adrian, MO, and will help you find the best outcome possible for your case.
If you need an expert Adrian, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re ready to talk to you today. You can connect with us at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note on line for a free, confidential consultation.
Adrian, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Summary
Below, we outline how a drug crime lawyer in Adrian, MO, will take direct action to help you, the differences between criminal substance allegations in Missouri, the things you should look for in your drug crimes defense lawyer, and resources which can help people defending against criminal drug allegations in Adrian, MO.
You can navigate to a specific section using the links below:
- What a Adrian, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Adrian, MO
- Qualities to Look For in Your Adrian, MO Drug Crime Lawyer
- Alternatives to Court for Adrian, MO, Drug Charges
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Adrian, MO, Today
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The Role of a Adrian, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer in Your Case
When you contact an experienced Adrian, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, you get help in your case right away. No matter what stage your case is in, it’s critical to have an attorney on your side to protect justice and won’t back down.
When you work with our firm, you can expect your drug crime lawyer to do the following:
- Let You Tell Your Story: This is your case, and your well-being should be at the center of it. We will treat you right and keep you informed through the process.
- Protect You During Interrogations: In every case, whether or not you broke the law, you need an attorney by your side to ensure that your rights are being protected.
- Fight for Pretrial Release: If you’re facing drug charges in Adrian, MO, you may or may not get bail; getting it depends on certain subjective factors. A lawyer can help you ensure that you receive bail, and lower the cost to something reasonable.
- Craft a Powerful Defense Strategy: Every case has unique details and circumstances. We can help you find the best defensive strategy to fit yours.
- Explore Plea Deal Options: Using our strategy and any available evidence, we’ll negotiate with the district attorney to see if we can have your charges dropped or dismissed.
- Fight the State in Front of a Jury: When you need to go before a judge and/or jury, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will present your defense in court.
- Continue to Fight for Your Interests at Sentencing/Appeals/Parole: After a trial, you may have the option for sentencing, appeal, and/or parole hearings. We won’t give up until you get justice.
Powerful Drug Crime Defense Strategies
A leading drug crimes defense attorney should have a variety of defenses to choose from for your case. Below are some of the common strategies that your Adrian, MO, drug crime lawyer should consider:
Lack of Intent
If you didn’t mean to break the law, you might have an avenue to show your innocence. Drug charges can often center around intent, because you can face criminal accusations just for being near a controlled substance, even if you didn’t touch it. For example, if someone hid drugs in your house without your knowledge, you can argue that you did not have intent to use them, and because of that, are innocent.
Substance Analysis Errors
If the prosecution wants to convict you, the state needs to show that the substance in question was, in fact, illegal. If there was an error in the scientific analysis used to identify it, we can exploit that to have the evidence thrown out.
Fourth Amendment Rights Violation
Your Fourth Amendment rights place rules on how law enforcement officers can find evidence. This means that law enforcement officers cannot search you for evidence with either a warrant or probable cause. Your Adrian, MO, drug crime lawyer can cast doubt on whether their reasoning did, in fact, qualify as probable cause.
Entrapment
entrapment is a process where a state official (likely undercover) causes a person to commit an illegal act, when they wouldn’t have otherwise. If you wouldn’t have broken the law otherwise, we can use this to defend against the charges.
Drug possession defenses are different from those for some other types of accusations, namely, violent crimes. This is because many are vice crimes, so defenses like “self-defense” don’t apply.
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 a police officer’s scale malfunctioned, and it showed more than 3oz, you can claim that there was a measurement error and you were actually innocent.
Vice Crimes Definition: Vice crimes refer to a category of actions that are illegal, but committing them typically does not harm anyone other than the alleged offender. Common examples include using drugs, violating alcohol regulations, and certain kinds of gambling.
Adrian, MO, Drug Charges We Fight and Their Consequences
You can face a variety of different drug accusations in Adrian, MO, and it’s important to work with a reputable drug crime lawyer for any of them. Below, you can read about some typical charges, and what legal consequences you could face if convicted:
Drug Possession
Drug possession is probably the most common drug-related charge in Adrian, MO. You would ‘possess’ a drug if you allegedly had it on your person, or it was somewhere else, but you had control over it.
Drug Possession Penalty: For controlled substances other than Marijuana, possession is a class D felony, with up to seven years in prison if convicted (Marijuana possession is typically much more lenient, either a class A or class D misdemeanor).
Drug Distribution
Drug distribution is a step up from regular possession charges. Distribution covers cases where someone allegedly sold an illegal drug, tried to sell it, or even just planned to sell some they had.
Drug Distribution Penalty: Distribution can range from a class E felony (up to four years in prison) to a class C felony (three to ten years in prison).
Drug Trafficking
Drug trafficking has a wide range of definitions in Missouri, but they are all centered on the transport and distribution of large quantities of controlled substances.
Drug Trafficking Penalty: Depending on the exact charge you face, you could be up against anything from a class C felony to a class A felony (ten years to life in prison).
Drug Manufacturing
Drug manufacturing charges in Adrian, MO, are what you probably expect: cases where a person supposedly made an illegal drug.
Drug Manufacturing Penalty: Different drug manufacturing cases can face different penalties, depending on the type and quantity produced. Additional prison time can be added in special cases, for example, if the drugs were allegedly made near a school. A conviction can range from a class E felony up to a class A felony.
DWI With Drugs
A DWI with drugs is not that different than one with alcohol: If you were operating a vehicle with drugs in your system (even legal ones) that impact your awareness and ability to drive, you can be accused of a DWI with drugs.
DWI with Drugs Penalty: These sentences vary depending on your driving history. If this is your first conviction, the penalty is a class B misdemeanor (up to six months in jail). On top of that, you will face a license suspension.
Juvenile Drug Crimes
Juvenile drug charges need special treatment from a defense attorney to fight properly. These typically include variations on the allegations listed above. This also includes some special crimes, such as a minor in possession of marijuana.
Juvenile Drug Crimes Penalty: The potential penalties are the same as for adults, but the defense strategies are different. Your juvenile drug crime lawyer can help you maximize your chances of exiting the regular legal process and using a Adrian, MO, diversionary program.
As you probably noticed, several of the above allegations carry felony consequences if convicted. To protect yourself from lifelong consequences, it’s critical to work with an expert felony drug crime lawyer to protect your freedom.
Federal Drug Charges in Adrian, MO
Most minor drug crime allegations are prosecuted by the state. But major ones, or cases in which you are alleged to have crossed state lines, are frequently taken over by the federal government. If you are facing federal charges, contact a proven federal drug charges lawyer with the strength to take on the United States Government immediately.
What You Need in a Adrian, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
Your Adrian, MO, drug crime lawyer can’t be just anyone. If you want to maximize your chances of a positive outcome, you need someone who has all of the following:
- Experience in Adrian, MO, courtrooms
- Compassion for your situation and well-being
- Upfront and open payment structures
- Familiarity with the statute(s) you’re accused of violating
- A track record of success
Combs Waterkotte meets all of the criteria for a high-quality drug crime lawyer. We can offer you expert legal counsel and guidance on how to move forward.
Legal Alternatives: Missouri Drug Charges and Treatment/Diversion Programs
If you’re facing drug charges in Adrian, MO, you might be imagining a trial in front of a judge and jury. However, there is another way. Your drug crime lawyer can help you explore special courts and diversionary programs that can protect your freedom.
While the state of 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. As a part of participation, candidates will agree to regular testing to ensure they do not take any illegal substances.
Depending on where you live in Missouri, you may also have the opportunity to take part in DWI court, family treatment court, and/or juvenile court. These offer some of the same benefits, but are not set up in every county. Contact a drug crime lawyer to see what you have access to in Adrian, MO.
Getting Help: Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
Drug cases are convoluted. The way laws regulate drug usage don’t always take the realities of addiction into account. But you can find help. Below, we’ve listed 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
The consequences of a drug charge are a big deal. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options which can give you another chance.
Get Expert Legal Representation in Adrian, MO, From a Proven Drug Crime Lawyer
Your Adrian, MO, drug crime lawyer should be doing more than “good enough” for your case. You should be getting ideas and strategies that are tailored to your circumstances.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Saved clients from over 1 million days in jail
- Extensive criminal defense resources
- Availability around the clock
- A stellar reputation amongst clients and peers
Get in touch with our team at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to talk to a drug crime lawyer today.
