Drug Crime Lawyer in Gower, MO. Being caught with drugs can send you to jail, even if you weren’t using them. in particularly serious cases, you could face manufacturing allegations, and up to life in prison. Without the help of a premier Gower, MO, criminal defense attorney, you could lose access to potential deals and avenues.
Combs Waterkotte has handled over 10,000 cases, many just like yours. Your attorney from our team is ready to defend against any drug charge in Gower, MO, and will help you find the best outcome possible for your case.
If you need an experienced Gower, MO, drug crime lawyer, it’s easy to get a hold of us. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a no-obligation review of your charges.
Gower, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Overview
On this page, we overview what a drug crime lawyer in Gower, MO, does to protect you, the differences between criminal substance allegations in Missouri, what you need in a drug crimes attorney, and resources which can help people defending against criminal drug allegations in Gower, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- How a Gower, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Protects You
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Gower, MO
- Qualities to Look For in Your Gower, MO Drug Crime Lawyer
- Different Diversionary Pathways for Drug Accusations in Gower, MO
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Contact a Drug Crime Lawyer in Gower, MO, Today
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The Role of a Gower, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer in Your Case
When you call an experienced Gower, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, we start working on your defense immediately. Wherever you are in the judicial process, it’s imperative to work with a team that will protect justice 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: This is your case, and your well-being should be at the center of it. We’re dedicated to treating you like a person, not a case number.
- Guide You Through Police Interviews: In every case, whether or not you broke the law, having a lawyer in the room with you can protect you from negative outcomes.
- Fight for Pretrial Release: If you’re facing drug charges in Gower, 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.
- Decide on a Staunch Defense Strategy: Every case has unique details and circumstances. We can help you find the best defensive strategy to fit yours.
- Negotiate With the State: 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.
- Defend You in Front of a Jury: If the negotiations don’t give us an outcome that you find acceptable, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will represent you in court.
- Represent You for 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.
Strong Strategies Our Lawyers Use Against Drug Charges
Each case is unique and deserves a tailor-made defensive plan. 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, you often can be found innocent. 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 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 prove what that substance was. If there was an error in the scientific analysis used to identify it, we’ll highlight that and have the evidence removed.
Fourth Amendment Rights Violation
Your Fourth Amendment rights restrict the police’s ability to search you for evidence. This means that law enforcement officers cannot search you for evidence with either a warrant or probable cause. Your Gower, 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. By claiming entrapment, we can successfully argue for many drug charges to be dropped or dismissed.
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” won’t work.
On the other hand, this allows for other defense strategies that only work against drug 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 3.5oz, 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, prostitution, and certain kinds of gambling.
Drug Allegations We Fight in Gower, MO
Whatever drug crime you’ve been accused of, you need a strong Gower, MO, drug crime lawyer to fight it. 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 Gower, MO. You can be convicted of drug possession if you have an illegal substance, either on your person or located elsewhere.
Drug Possession Penalty: For controlled substances besides Marijuana, possession is a class D felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to seven years (Marijuana possession can either be a class A or class D misdemeanor).
Drug Distribution
Drug distribution is normally treated more seriously than simple possession. 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 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: 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. The sentence 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 driving with drugs in your system (even legal ones) that could impair your ability to drive, you can face drug DWI accusations.
DWI with Drugs Penalty: Previous DWIs can increase the penalties for subsequent DWI convictions. If you’ve never been convicted before, 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: Juveniles accused face the same penalties as listed above. However, youths typically have some additional options available to avoid them. Your juvenile drug crime lawyer can help you maximize your chances of exiting the regular legal process and using a Gower, MO, diversionary program.
As outlined above, most of these allegations can be charged as a felony. If you want to avoid lifelong consequences, it’s essential to work with an expert felony drug crime lawyer to fight your case.
Federal Drug Charges in Gower, MO
In cases where the federal government has decided to take over, building a strong defense is even more important. Federal prosecutors are often even tougher than state prosecutors, and frequently have higher conviction rates. If you are facing federal charges, contact a leading federal drug charges lawyer with the strength to take on the United States Government immediately.
What You Need in a Gower, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
Your Gower, MO, drug crime lawyer can’t be just anyone. If you’re trying to pick a a lawyer, look for someone with the following:
- Experience in Gower, MO, courtrooms
- An interest in your well-being, not just your case
- Fair and clear payment structures
- Familiarity with the statute(s) you’re accused of violating
- A history of positive outcomes for clients
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
Jury trials for drug cases are intimidating. They can be unforgiving and unpredictable. 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 offer you alternatives.
While the state of Missouri offers many drug treatment courts, adult treatment courts are the most widely available. As the name would imply, these systems offer treatment opportunities over typical punishments.
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 offer some of the same benefits, but are not set up in every county. Talk to a drug crime lawyer to see what you have access to in Gower, 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, you can access 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
Substance abuse and related criminal charges can be devestating. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options which can give you another chance.
Your Freedom Is at Stake. Work With a Premier Gower, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
When you work with a Gower, MO, drug crime attorney, you need to have high standards. You should be getting expert legal representation and working with someone who puts you first.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Successfully handled over 10,000 cases
- Expert criminal defense resources
- Two former prosecutors who understand how the state thinks
- A stellar reputation amongst clients and peers
Reach out to us at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online to speak with a drug crime lawyer now.
