Drug Crime Lawyer in Concordia, MO. If someone makes drug-related allegations against you, you could be up against life-altering consequences. in particularly serious cases, you could face manufacturing allegations, and up to life in prison. If you don’t work with a leading Concordia, MO, criminal defense lawyer, you could face years behind bars.
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 Concordia, MO, and a team that is available around the clock if you have any questions or need any help.
If you need an experienced Concordia, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re ready to talk to you today. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a no strings attached case review.
Concordia, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Overview
In this post, we describe the different steps a drug crime lawyer in Concordia, 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 list some resources which can help people defending against criminal drug allegations in Concordia, MO.
The links below let you skip ahead to a particular topic, if you want to learn more about a particular area:
- The Role of a Concordia, MO, Drug Crime Defense Attorney
- Potential Consequences for Different Drug Charges in Concordia, MO
- Concordia, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Essential Qualities
- Alternatives to Court for Concordia, MO, Drug Charges
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Talk to a Drug Crime Lawyer in Concordia, MO, Today
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
How a Concordia, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Fights for You
When you call an experienced Concordia, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, you get skillful legal representation from day one. Whatever your case looks like, you need to work with a team that will protect your rights and won’t back down.
Here are the steps we take to help after your call:
- Learn Your Story: The outcome of your case matters, but so does your experience while you fight it. We’re dedicated to treating you like a person, not a case number.
- Protect You During Interrogations: No matter what, regardless of the circumstances, the consequences of trying to navigate an interrogation on your own are dire.
- Fight for Bail: If you’re facing drug charges in Concordia, MO, you may or may not get bail; getting it depends on certain subjective factors. Our team will fight for your freedom and a low bail amount.
- Craft a Powerful Defense Strategy: There are a number of defensive tactics available to fight drug charges, but not every one is right for your case. We’ll help you pick the most effective option.
- Explore Plea Deal Options: Using our strategy and any available evidence, we’ll bargain with the prosecution to see if we can have your charges dropped or dismissed.
- Fight the State at Trial: If the negotiations don’t give us an outcome that you find acceptable, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will present your defense in court.
- Represent You for 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.
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 Concordia, 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. This is particularly relevant to drug crime cases, where you can face criminal accusations just for being near an illegal substance, even if they weren’t yours. For example, if someone using drug paraphernalia left them on your property, you can argue that you did not have intent to use them, and because of that, are innocent.
Lab Analysis Errors
To be convicted of possession, distributing, or manufacturing an illegal substance, 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’ll highlight that and have the evidence removed.
Illegal Search and Seizure
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 Concordia, 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. By claiming entrapment, we can successfully argue for many drug charges to be dropped or dismissed.
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 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 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, violating alcohol regulations, and certain kinds of gambling.
Concordia, MO, Drug Charges We Fight and Their Consequences
There’s no such thing as a drug accusation in Concordia, MO, that isn’t serious. 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 | 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 affected by 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 |
In Missouri, several of the above allegations carry felony consequences if convicted. If you want to avoid lifelong consequences, it’s vital to work with an accomplished felony drug crime lawyer to build your defense.
Federal Drug Charges in Concordia, MO
In addition to state charges, there’s another thing to be aware of: Federal charges. For major drug trafficking allegations or transport of illegal substances across state lines, the federal government may decide to prosecute the case. If you are facing federal charges, contact a proven federal drug charges lawyer with the strength to take on the United States Government as soon as possible.
What to Look For in a Concordia, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
When you pick a drug crime lawyer in Concordia, MO, you need a premier option. An ideal candidate will have:
- Established relationships in Concordia, MO, courtrooms
- Compassion for your situation and well-being
- Fair and clear payment structures
- Plans on how to defend against your charges
- Experience working with the state and insights into their strategies
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.
Missouri’s Drug Treatment and Diversion Programs
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 the state of Missouri has 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.
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, however, not every city has them available. Contact a drug crime lawyer to see what you have access to in Concordia, MO.
Getting Help: Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
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 access some resources for assistance with both the addiction layer and the legal layer:
Substance Abuse Assistance Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA is an official government organization which, amongst other goals, is focused on fighting substance abuse in America. They also feature FindTreatment.gov, which can help people locate treatment options.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA offers information regarding commonly abused substances, news in the space, and conducts research trials into new potential treatment options.
Missouri Treatment Court Reports
This Missouri government resource lists out the different state treatment courts, provides maps of where each is available, and includes additional resources for locating a treatment court option.
Missouri Drug Charges Legal Resources
Missouri Drug Laws Index
Because the statutes as written can be convoluted and hard to understand, we’ve rewritten some of the key drug statutes in plain English to make them more easily interpreted.
Missouri Legal FAQs
Our legal FAQs provide answers to some of the most common criminal defense questions in Missouri, including for drug crime accusations.
Legal Glossary
Our legal glossary can help you understand the meanings behind different legal terms. This is particularly helpful if you’re being sent court documents that you’re unfamiliar with.
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.
Your Freedom Is at Stake. Work With a Dominant Concordia, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
When you work with us, you’re working with a proven Concordia, MO, drug crime lawyer who takes your case seriously. We are ready to let you know how we can help and will give you 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
Call one of our representatives at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to speak with a drug crime lawyer today.
