Drug Crime Lawyer in Kearney, MO. Being caught with drugs can send you to jail, even if you weren’t using them. in particularly serious cases, you could face elevated charges of distribution or trafficking. If you don’t work with a leading Kearney, MO, criminal defense lawyer, you could face years behind bars.
Combs Waterkotte will fight for your rights and your freedom. When you work with us, you get a lawyer who is ready to defend against any drug charge in Kearney, MO, and will help you find the best outcome possible for your case.
If you need an experienced Kearney, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re ready to talk to you today. Talk to a lawyer today at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a no-obligation review of your charges.
Kearney, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Overview
In this post, we overview what a drug crime lawyer in Kearney, MO, does to protect you, the differences between criminal substance allegations in Missouri, the top qualities to look for when deciding on a drug defense attorney, and resources which can help people defending against criminal drug allegations in Kearney, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- What a Kearney, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Kearney, MO
- Qualities to Look For in Your Kearney, MO Drug Crime Lawyer
- Different Diversionary Pathways for Drug Accusations in Kearney, MO
- Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Kearney, 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 Kearney, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Can Do for You
When you contact an experienced Kearney, 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 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:
- Let You Tell Your 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: No matter what, even if you’re innocent, 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 Kearney, 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 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: 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: When you need to go before a judge and/or jury, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will present your case 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. Our lawyers can stay by your side and help you explore further options.
Effective Tactics We Use to Fight Drug Crime Allegations
There are many tactics that we can use when fighting drug charges. Below are some of the common strategies that your Kearney, MO, drug crime lawyer should consider:
Lack of Intent
If you didn’t mean to break the law, many times, you can’t be held liable for your actions. Drug charges can often center around intent, because you can face criminal accusations just for being near an illegal substance, even if you didn’t touch it. For example, if someone hid drugs in your house without your knowledge, you can argue that you did not have the intent to possess them.
Mistaken Substance Analysis
If the prosecution wants to convict you, the state needs to correctly identify the substance as something illegal to use or make. If the evidence chain of custody was broken, or the lab made a mistake in the analysis, 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 Kearney, MO, drug crime lawyer can help you determine if your rights were violated or not.
Entrapment
Similar to above, law enforcement has more rules on what they are allowed to do during investigations. They can observe people breaking the law and then arrest them, but if they go too far in encouraging someone to break the law, this is called entrapment. 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 defenses like “self-defense” don’t apply.
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 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.
Drug Allegations We Fight in Kearney, MO
You can face a variety of different drug accusations in Kearney, 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 Charge Category | Description | Minimum Possible Penalty | Maximum Possible Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | Holding or controlling a drug | Class D Misdemeanor | Class D Felony |
| Drug Distribution | Giving out or selling 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 of the above where the alleged offender was a youth | Varies | Varies |
As you probably noticed, several of the above allegations carry felony consequences if convicted. To defend yourself against years behind bars, it’s essential to work with a talented felony drug crime lawyer to protect your freedom.
Federal Drug Charges in Kearney, MO
In addition to 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 as soon as possible.
What to Look For in a Kearney, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
A Kearney, MO, drug crimes attorney with skill and knowledge is essential to help you win your case. If you’re trying to pick a a lawyer, look for someone with the following:
- Practice fighting cases in Kearney, MO
- Care for how you’re doing
- Upfront and clear payment structures
- Familiarity with the statute(s) you’re accused of violating
- A history of positive outcomes for clients
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.
Legal Alternatives: Missouri Drug Charges and Treatment/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 can help you explore special courts and diversionary programs that can keep you out of prison.
While Missouri has several different drug treatment courts, most defendants will try to use adult treatment court. 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. Typically, drug testing is required on a regular basis in these programs.
Adult treatment court isn’t the only option in Missouri. The state also offers 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 Kearney, MO.
Getting Help: Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
Drug cases are complex. The way laws regulate drug usage don’t always take the realities of addiction into account. But you can find help. Below, you can review 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 that help you start over.
Get Expert Legal Representation in Kearney, MO, From a Proven Drug Crime Lawyer
When you work with us, you’re working with a proven Kearney, MO, drug crime lawyer who takes your case seriously. 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
- Over 500 five star reviews
Get in touch with our team at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online to connect with a drug crime lawyer now.
