Drug Crime Lawyer in Garden City, MO. Being caught with drugs can send you to jail, even if you weren’t using them. If you’re particularly unlucky, you could be charged with drug dealing instead of just possession. If you don’t have a knowledgeable Garden City, MO, criminal defense attorney, you could face years behind bars.
Combs Waterkotte knows how to fight these cases successfully. Your attorney from Combs Waterkotte is ready to defend against any drug charge in Garden City, MO, and a team that is available around the clock if you have any questions or need any help.
If you need an expert Garden City, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re just a call away. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential consultation.
Garden City, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Overview
Below, we describe the different steps a drug crime lawyer in Garden City, MO, takes during a case, the differences between criminal substance allegations in Missouri, what you need in a drug crimes attorney, and list some helpful resources which can help with fighting substance abuse and/or navigating legal complications.
You can navigate to a specific section using the links below:
- How a Garden City, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Protects You
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Garden City, MO
- What You Need in a Garden City, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
- Alternatives to Court for Garden City, MO, Drug Charges
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Garden City, MO, Today
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
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500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
What a Garden City, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
When you call an experienced Garden City, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, we start working on your defense immediately. Wherever you are in the judicial process, you need to work with an attorney who will protect your rights and won’t back down.
When you work with our firm, you can expect your drug crime lawyer to do the following:
- Listen to Your Side of the 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.
- Stand By You During Interviews: No matter what, regardless of the circumstances, the consequences of trying to navigate an interrogation on your own are dire.
- Argue for Pretrial Release: Not everyone accused of a crime in Garden City, MO, is given bail; getting it depends on certain subjective factors. We will argue that you deserve pretrial release and a reasonable bail amount.
- 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: Using our strategy and any available evidence, we’ll bargain with the prosecution to see if we can have your charges dropped or dismissed.
- Defend You in Front of a Jury: Not every case ends with a plea deal. If you choose to go to trial, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will present your case 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.
Powerful Drug Crime Defense Strategies
There are many tactics that we can use when fighting drug charges. 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, many times, you can’t be held liable for your actions. Intentions are critical in drug crime cases. In the wrong circumstances, you can face criminal accusations if someone with you was using 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 to use them, and because of that, are innocent.
Mistaken Substance Analysis
If the prosecution wants to convict you, the state needs to prove what that substance was. If something is wrong with the way the tests were conducted, we will counter it, show the flaws, and have the evidence suppressed.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Your Fourth Amendment rights protect you against unlawful searches and seizures by law enforcement. This means that police need to either have a warrant or probable cause to search your person or property. Your Garden City, MO, drug crime lawyer can help you determine if your rights were violated or not.
Entrapment
Police are allowed to conduct undercover operations to catch alleged criminals, but there are limits on what they are allowed to do. If they go too far and cause you to break the law when you wouldn’t have otherwise, that is entrapment. If you wouldn’t have broken the law otherwise, we can use this to defend against the charges.
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 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 4oz, 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.
Common Drug Charges in Garden City, MO
There’s no such thing as a drug accusation in Garden City, MO, that isn’t serious. Below, you can read about some typical charges, and what legal consequences you could face if convicted:
| Drug Charge Category | Description | Minimum Possible Penalty | Maximum Possible Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | Holding or having control over a drug | Class D Misdemeanor | Class D Felony |
| Drug Distribution | Giving out or selling 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 if the alleged offender was younger than 18 | Varies | Varies |
As you probably noticed, nearly any drug charge has the potential to be a felony. To defend yourself against lifelong consequences, it’s imperitive to work with an experienced felony drug crime lawyer to build your defense.
Federal Drug Charges in Garden City, MO
Beyond state charges, there’s another thing to be aware of: Federal charges. If the alleged crime took place on federal land, or across multiple states, the federal government may decide to prosecute the case. If you are facing federal charges, contact a leading federal drug charges lawyer who can take on the United States Government right away.
What to Look For in a Garden City, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
A Garden City, MO, drug crimes attorney with skill and knowledge is essential to help you win your case. An ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in Garden City, MO, courtrooms
- Care for how you’re doing
- Fair and understandable payment structures
- Plans on how to defend against your charges
- Experience working with the state and insights into their strategies
Combs Waterkotte checks off all the boxes for a high-quality drug crime lawyer. We’re here to help and will battle for your freedom.
Treatment and Diversion Programs for Garden City, MO, Drug Charges
If you’re facing drug charges in Garden City, MO, you might be imagining a trial in front of a judge and jury. 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. 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. Regular testing is required to ensure participants remain drug-free.
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 can be equally valuable, but are not set up in every county. Talk to a drug crime lawyer to learn about what you have access to in Garden City, MO.
Getting Help: Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
Criminal drug charges are complicated. The interactions between law and addiction don’t always make sense. But there are ways forward. Below, we’ve listed some resources for assistance with both drug addiction 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
Substance abuse and related criminal charges can be devestating. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options that help you start over.
You Need a Leading Garden City, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer. You Need Combs Waterkotte
When you partner with our team, you’re working with a proven Garden City, MO, drug crime lawyer who is dedicated to fighting on your behalf. We are ready to let you know how we can help and will create 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
- Over 500 five star reviews
Call one of our team members at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online to speak with a drug crime lawyer now.
