Drug Crime Lawyer in Camden Point, MO. Even just “simple possession” of an illegal substance can land you in prison. What’s worse, you could face elevated charges of distribution or trafficking. Without the help of a proven Camden Point, MO, criminal defense attorney, you’ll be in a tough battle against the state prosecutor.
Combs Waterkotte is here to help you avoid that fate. Your attorney from our team is ready to defend against any drug charge in Camden Point, MO, and won’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
If you need an expert Camden Point, MO, drug crime lawyer, it’s easy to get a hold of us. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no strings attached case review.
Camden Point, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Summary
In this article, we outline how a drug crime lawyer in Camden Point, MO, will take direct action to help you, the different drug charges you can face in Missouri, what you need in a drug crimes attorney, and resources which can help people defending against criminal drug allegations in Camden Point, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- How a Camden Point, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Protects You
- Camden Point, MO, Drug Charges We Defend and Their Penalties
- Qualities to Look For in Your Camden Point, MO Drug Crime Lawyer
- Alternatives to Court for Camden Point, MO, Drug Charges
- Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Camden Point, MO, Today
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
What a Camden Point, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
When you contact an expert Camden Point, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, we start working on your defense immediately. Regardless of the particulars, you need to work with an attorney who will protect your rights and defend your freedom.
Each of our team members is dedicated to giving you the best experience and legal representation possible. Here’s how we do it:
- Listen to Your Story: The outcome of your case matters, but so does your experience while you fight it. We want to know you, and how we can best help.
- Guide You Through Police Interviews: In every case, regardless of the circumstances, having a lawyer in the room with you can protect you from negative outcomes.
- Argue for Bail: Not everyone accused of a crime in Camden Point, MO, is given 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.
- Design a Staunch Defense: 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: Plea bargains can be a powerful strategy to find a positive outcome for your case, without the high risk of a trial.
- Fight the State at Trial: Not every case ends with a plea deal. If you choose to go to trial, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will defend you in court.
- Represent You for Sentencing/Appeals/Parole: Depending on the result of your trial, you may have the option for sentencing, appeal, and/or parole hearings. We won’t give up until you get justice.
Powerful Tactics We Use to Fight Drug Crime Allegations
There are many tactics that we can use when fighting drug charges. When you work with us, we’ll look at the below defense strategies and figure out what fits your circumstances best:
Lack of Intent
If you didn’t mean to break the law, you often can be found innocent. This is particularly relevant to drug crime cases, where you can be accused if someone with you was using a controlled 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 intent, and there for are not guilty of possessing or using them.
Substance Analysis Errors
To be convicted of possession, distributing, or manufacturing an illegal substance, the state needs to correctly identify the substance as something illegal to use or make. If there was an error in the scientific analysis used to identify it, we will counter it, show the flaws, and have the evidence suppressed.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Your Fourth Amendment rights place rules on how law enforcement officers can find evidence. This means that police need to either have a warrant or probable cause to search your person or property. Your Camden Point, 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” 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 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 4oz, you can claim that there was a measurement error and you did not violate the law.
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.
Drug Allegations We Fight in Camden Point, MO
You can face a variety of different drug accusations in Camden Point, MO, and it’s important to work with a reputable drug crime lawyer for any of them. We’ve outlined some of the most common types of charges below, along with their penalties:
Drug Possession
Drug possession is probably the most common drug-related charge in Camden Point, 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 besides Marijuana, possession is a class D felony, with up to seven years in prison if convicted (Marijuana possession can either be a class A or class D misdemeanor).
Drug Distribution
Drug distribution is a step up from regular possession charges. These charges include when there was any intention to sell a controlled substance, whether or not it was followed through upon.
Drug Distribution Penalty: Distribution charges 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 charges most often apply in cases with a large quantity of illegal substances. Trafficking is mostly centered around transporting drugs into Missouri, but even just possessing enough can lead to trafficking charges.
Drug Trafficking Penalty: Trafficking charges can come in either first or second degree, and overall range from being a class C felony to a class A felony (ten years to life in prison).
Drug Manufacturing
Drug manufacturing refers to situations where someone produced an illegal drug.
Drug Manufacturing Penalty: Sentences for drug manufacturing can vary based on what the drug was and how much was made. Additional prison time can be added in special cases, for example, if the drugs were allegedly made near a school. The sentence can range from a class E felony up to a class A felony.
DWI With Drugs
A DWI with drugs is similar to an alcohol DWI: If you were driving while affected by any drugs (even legal ones) that make it unsafe to be on the road, you can face drug DWI accusations.
DWI with Drugs Penalty: The penalty depends on whether you have any previous DWI convictions. If you’ve never been convicted before, the penalty is a class B misdemeanor (up to six months in jail). Additionally, 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 Camden Point, MO, diversionary program.
In Missouri, nearly any drug charge has the potential to be a felony. If you want to avoid lifelong consequences, it’s imperitive to work with an experienced felony drug crime lawyer to protect your freedom.
Federal Drug Charges in Camden Point, 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 leading federal drug charges lawyer who can take on the United States Government as soon as possible.
What to Look For in a Camden Point, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
When you pick a drug crime lawyer in Camden Point, MO, you need a premier option. An ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in Camden Point, MO, courtrooms
- Care for how you’re doing
- Upfront and clear payment structures
- Familiarity with the statute(s) you’re accused of violating
- A track record of success
Combs Waterkotte checks off all the boxes for 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
If you’re facing drug charges in Camden Point, 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 offer you alternatives.
While the state of Missouri offers several different drug treatment courts, adult treatment courts are the most widely available. These courts were made to help people with substance use disorders fight against addiction, rather than facing typical criminal charges.
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.
Some other types of treatment courts in Missouri include DWI court, family treatment court, and/or juvenile court. These also offer alternatives to prison and the traditional court process, but are not set up in every county. Talk to a drug crime lawyer to learn about what you have access to in Camden Point, MO.
Getting Help: Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
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 forward. 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 which can give you another chance.
Get Expert Legal Representation in Camden Point, MO, From a Proven Drug Crime Lawyer
When you partner with our team, you’re working with a proven Camden Point, MO, drug crime lawyer who knows what it takes to win. We are ready to let you know how we can help and will build a defense you can be proud of.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Over 80 years of combined legal experience
- Expert criminal defense resources
- Two former prosecutors who understand how the state thinks
- A reputation for success
Call one of our representatives at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online to connect with a drug crime lawyer today.
