Drug Crime Lawyer in Ivanhoe, MO. Being caught with drugs can send you to jail, even if you weren’t using them. What’s worse, you could face manufacturing allegations, and up to life in prison. If you don’t have a leading Ivanhoe, MO, criminal defense attorney, you could easily get lost in the complex legal system.
Combs Waterkotte is here to help you avoid that fate. Our team of legal experts is ready to defend against any drug charge in Ivanhoe, MO, and will help you find the best outcome possible for your case.
If you need an experienced Ivanhoe, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re just a call away. Talk to a lawyer now at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no-obligation review of your charges.
Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Summary
Below, we describe the different steps a drug crime lawyer in Ivanhoe, MO, takes during a case, the differences between criminal substance allegations 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 Ivanhoe, MO.
The links below let you skip ahead to a particular topic, if you want to learn more about a particular area:
- What a Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Ivanhoe, MO
- What You Need in a Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
- Treatment and Diversion Programs for Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Charges
- Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Ivanhoe, MO, Today
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What a Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
When you call an experienced Ivanhoe, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, you get help in your case right away. Wherever you are in the judicial process, it’s critical to have an attorney on your side to protect your rights and won’t back down.
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’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: Not everyone accused of a crime in Ivanhoe, MO, is given bail; getting it depends on certain subjective factors. Our team will fight for your freedom and a low bail amount.
- Decide on a Powerful Defense Strategy: Every case has unique details and circumstances. We can help you find the best defensive strategy to fit yours.
- Explore Plea Deal Options: Using our strategy and any available evidence, we’ll bargain with the district attorney to see if we can have your charges dropped or dismissed.
- Defend You 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.
- 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. Our lawyers can stay by your side and help you explore further options.
Effective Drug Crime Defense Strategies
A leading drug crimes defense attorney should have a variety of defenses to choose from for your case. 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, many times, you can’t be held liable for your actions. This is particularly relevant to drug crime cases, where you can face criminal accusations just for being near an illegal 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 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.
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 Ivanhoe, MO, drug crime lawyer can cast doubt on whether their reasoning did, in fact, qualify as probable cause.
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” don’t apply.
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 4oz, you can claim that there was a measurement error and you were actually innocent.
Vice Crimes Definition: Vice crimes are actions that are illegal and socially unacceptable, but generally don’t hurt other people. Common examples include using drugs, prostitution, and certain kinds of gambling.
Drug Allegations We Fight in Ivanhoe, MO
There’s no such thing as a drug accusation in Ivanhoe, MO, that isn’t serious. 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 Ivanhoe, 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 other than 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 a step up from regular possession charges. Distribution covers cases where there was any form or plan for drug sales.
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 refers to when someone is accused of possessing, purchasing, or bringing into Missouri a large amount of an illegal substance.
Drug Trafficking Penalty: Depending on the exact charge you face, you could be up against anything from a class C felony to a class A felony (ten years to life in prison).
Drug Manufacturing
Drug manufacturing charges in Ivanhoe, MO, are what you probably expect: cases where a person supposedly made an illegal drug.
Drug Manufacturing Penalty: Sentences for drug manufacturing can vary based on what the drug was and how much was made. The exact level of felony also depends on other circumstances, such as if someone was hurt or killed in the production process. It 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 operating a vehicle 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: These sentences vary depending on your driving history. 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 crimes are more of a category than a specific offense. This includes any charges where the accused is under 18. 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 Ivanhoe, MO, diversionary program.
As outlined above, most of these allegations can be charged as a felony. If you want to avoid years behind bars, it’s critical to work with an experienced felony drug crime lawyer to fight your case.
Federal Drug Charges in Ivanhoe, MO
On top of 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 immediately.
What to Look For in a Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
A Ivanhoe, MO, drug crimes attorney with skill and knowledge is essential to help you win your case. An ideal candidate will have:
- Practice fighting cases in Ivanhoe, MO
- Care for how you’re doing
- Fair and understandable payment structures
- Plans on how to defend against your charges
- A track record of success
Combs Waterkotte offers everything you need in a high-quality drug crime lawyer. We’re here to help and will battle for your freedom.
Treatment and Diversion Programs for Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Charges
If you’re facing drug charges in Ivanhoe, MO, you might be imagining a trial in front of a judge and jury. But there are more options. Your drug crime lawyer advise you on special courts and diversionary programs that can offer you alternatives.
While the state of Missouri offers several different drug treatment courts, most defendants will try to use adult treatment court. As the name would imply, these systems offer treatment opportunities over typical punishments.
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.
Adult treatment court isn’t the only option in Missouri. The state also offers 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 see what you have access to in Ivanhoe, MO.
Getting Help: Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
Criminal drug charges are complicated. The government’s rules don’t always take real-life circumstances into account. But there are ways to find help. Below, we’ve listed some resources for assistance with both the addiction layer and the legal layer:
- 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
The consequences of a drug charge are a big deal. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options which can give you another chance.
You Need a Leading Ivanhoe, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer. You Need Combs Waterkotte
When you work with a Ivanhoe, MO, drug crime attorney, you need to have high standards. You should be getting ideas and strategies that are tailored to your circumstances.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Saved clients from over 1 million days in jail
- Expert criminal defense resources
- A client-centered approach
- 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.
