Drug Crime Lawyer in Blue Valley, MO. Being caught with drugs can send you to jail, even if you weren’t using them. What’s worse, you could be charged with drug dealing instead of just possession. If you don’t have a leading Blue Valley, MO, criminal defense attorney, you could easily get lost in the complex legal system.
Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to ensuring our clients get fair, expert legal representation. Our team of legal experts is ready to defend against any drug charge in Blue Valley, MO, and a team that is available around the clock if you have any questions or need any help.
If you need an expert Blue Valley, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re just a call away. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no strings attached case review.
Blue Valley, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Overview
In this post, we describe the different steps a drug crime lawyer in Blue Valley, MO, takes during a case, the different drug charges you can face 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 Blue Valley, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- The Role of a Blue Valley, MO, Drug Crime Defense Attorney
- Potential Consequences for Different Drug Charges in Blue Valley, MO
- What You Need in a Blue Valley, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
- Different Diversionary Pathways for Drug Accusations in Blue Valley, MO
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Blue Valley, MO, Today
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
What a Blue Valley, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Can Do for You
When you contact an expert Blue Valley, 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 protect your rights and defend your freedom.
Here are the steps we take to help after your call:
- Listen to Your Side of the Story: The outcome of your case matters, but so does your experience while you fight it. We will treat you right and keep you informed through the process.
- Guide You Through Police Interviews: No matter what, even if you’re innocent, having a lawyer in the room with you can protect you from negative outcomes.
- Fight for Pretrial Release: Bail is not guaranteed for all crimes in Blue Valley, MO, and getting it depends on certain subjective factors. Our team will fight for your freedom and a low bail amount.
- Decide on a Staunch 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.
- Negotiate With the State: 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.
- Fight the State 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: Depending on the result of your trial, you might go through sentencing, appeal, and/or parole hearings. We don’t stop after the verdict. If you still need help, we’re still available to offer it.
Effective Strategies Our Lawyers Use Against Drug Charges
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 Blue Valley, MO, drug crime lawyer should consider:
Lack of Intent
If you didn’t mean to break the law, many times, you can’t be held liable for your actions. Intentions are critical in drug crime cases. In the wrong circumstances, you can be accused if someone with you was using an illegal substance, even if they weren’t yours. For example, if there were drugs in your vehicle but they weren’t yours, you can argue that you did not have the intent to possess them.
Mistaken Substance Analysis
If the prosecution wants to convict you, the state needs to show that the substance in question was, in fact, illegal. 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.
Fourth Amendment Rights Violation
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 Blue Valley, 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 were a victim of entrapment, that can be grounds for a dismissal of your 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 strategies like “self-defense” won’t work.
On the other hand, you can fight drug charges in unique ways, with unique defenses. For example, let’s look at a hypothetical marijuana criminal charge. While Missouri has largely decriminalized it, 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 include actions that are looked at as immoral, but are often “victimless”. Common examples include using drugs, prostitution, and certain kinds of gambling.
Blue Valley, MO, Drug Charges We Fight and Their Consequences
Whatever drug crime you’ve been accused of, you need a strong Blue Valley, MO, drug crime lawyer to fight it. We’ve outlined some of the most common types of charges below, along with their penalties:
| Drug Charge Category | Description | Minimum Possible Penalty | Maximum Possible Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | Holding or controlling a drug | Class D Misdemeanor | Class D Felony |
| Drug Distribution | Giving out or selling a drug | Class E Felony | Class C Felony |
| Drug Trafficking | Owning 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 | Operating a vehicle 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 younger than 18 | Varies | Varies |
As you probably noticed, several of the above allegations carry felony consequences if convicted. If you want to avoid lifelong consequences, it’s critical to work with an expert felony drug crime lawyer to protect your freedom.
Federal Drug Charges in Blue Valley, 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 proven federal drug charges lawyer who can take on the United States Government as soon as possible.
Essential Qualities in a Blue Valley, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
When you pick a drug crime lawyer in Blue Valley, MO, you need a premier option. If you’re trying to pick a a lawyer, look for someone with the following:
- Established relationships in Blue Valley, MO, courtrooms
- An interest in your well-being, not just your case
- Fair and clear payment structures
- Knowledge of your specific charges
- A track record of success
Combs Waterkotte offers everything you need in a high-quality drug crime lawyer. We can offer you expert legal counsel and guidance on how to move forward.
Missouri’s Drug Treatment and Diversion Programs
A trial or a plea deal are the two main ways criminal cases are resolved. However, there is another way. Your drug crime lawyer can help you explore special courts and diversionary programs that can offer you alternatives.
While the state of Missouri offers many drug treatment courts, most defendants will try to use adult treatment court. These courts were made to help people with substance use disorders fight against addiction, rather than facing typical criminal charges.
If you want to participate in a treatment court, your attorney will need to work with the state to arrange for it. Your lawyer will explain why you are a good candidate for treatment court, and you’ll get access to rehabilitation services while in the program. As a part of participation, candidates will agree to regular testing to ensure they do not take any illegal substances.
Some other types of treatment courts in Missouri include DWI court, family treatment court, and/or juvenile court. These can be equally valuable, though they are not as widely available. Contact a drug crime lawyer to see what you have access to in Blue Valley, MO.
Getting Help: Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
Criminal drug charges are convoluted. The way laws regulate drug usage don’t always take the realities of addiction into account. But there are ways to find help. Below, we’ve listed some resources for assistance with both substance abuse and legal complexities:
- 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
Facing drug charges can turn your life upside down. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options that help you start over.
Get Expert Legal Representation in Blue Valley, MO, From a Proven Drug Crime Lawyer
When you partner with our team, you’re working with a proven Blue Valley, MO, drug crime lawyer who knows what it takes to win. We are ready to hear from you and will craft a defense you can be proud of.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Successfully handled over 10,000 cases
- Extensive criminal defense resources
- A client-centered approach
- A reputation for success
Call us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online to speak with a drug crime lawyer now.
