Drug Crime Lawyer in Odessa, MO. If someone makes drug-related allegations against you, you could be up against life-altering consequences. in particularly serious cases, you could face elevated charges of distribution or trafficking. If you don’t work with a premier Odessa, MO, criminal defense attorney, you could easily get lost in the complex legal system.
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 Odessa, MO, and will help you find the best outcome possible for your case.
If you need an experienced Odessa, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re ready to talk to you today. Talk to a member of our team now at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no-obligation review of your charges.
Odessa, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Summary
In this post, we describe the different steps a drug crime lawyer in Odessa, 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 resources available to help people facing drug charges in Odessa, MO.
You can navigate to a specific section using the links below:
- What a Odessa, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Odessa, MO
- Qualities to Look For in Your Odessa, MO Drug Crime Lawyer
- Alternatives to Court for Odessa, MO, Drug Charges
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Contact a Drug Crime Lawyer in Odessa, MO, Today
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The Role of a Odessa, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer in Your Case
When you contact an expert Odessa, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, you get help in your case right away. Regardless of the particulars, it’s imperative to have an attorney on your side to 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:
- Learn Your Story: The outcome of your case matters, but so does your experience while you fight it. We will treat you right and keep you informed through the process.
- Guide You Through Police Interviews: In every case, even if you’re innocent, the consequences of trying to navigate an interrogation on your own are dire.
- Fight for Bail: If you’re facing drug charges in Odessa, MO, you may or may not get bail; getting it depends on certain subjective factors. A lawyer can help you ensure that you receive bail, and lower the cost to something reasonable.
- Design a Staunch 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.
- Negotiate With the State: The prosecutors know that we build every defense as if we’re going to trial, so they know they can’t get away with an unfair offer.
- Defend You at Trial: Not every case ends with a plea deal. If you choose to go to trial, our trial-ready team of drug crime lawyers will represent you in court.
- Represent You for Sentencing/Appeals/Parole: After a trial, you may have the option for 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.
Drug Crime Defense Strategies
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 Odessa, 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. Intentions are critical in drug crime cases. In the wrong circumstances, you can be accused if someone with you was using an illegal substance, even if you’re not guilty of using it. For example, if someone using drug paraphernalia left them on your property, you can argue that you did not have intent, and there for are not guilty of possessing or using them.
Substance Analysis Errors
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 will counter it, show the flaws, and have the evidence suppressed.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Your Fourth Amendment rights restrict the police’s ability to search you for evidence. This means that police cannot search you for evidence with either a warrant or probable cause. Your Odessa, MO, drug crime lawyer can cast doubt on whether their reasoning did, in fact, qualify as probable cause.
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” 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 more than 3oz, 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.
Common Drug Charges in Odessa, MO
Whatever drug crime you’ve been accused of, you need a strong Odessa, 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 in many ways the default drug crime people are accused of in Odessa, 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 any substances besides Marijuana, possession is a class D felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to seven years (Marijuana possession is treated less harshly, and is either a class A or class D misdemeanor).
Drug Distribution
Drug distribution is a step up from regular possession charges. Distribution covers cases where someone allegedly sold an illegal drug, tried to sell it, or even just planned to sell some they had.
Drug Distribution Penalty: Distribution charges 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 arise when someone allegedly grew, mixed, or otherwise made a controlled substance.
Drug Manufacturing Penalty: Sentences for drug manufacturing can vary based on what the drug was and how much was made. Some other factors, such as if someone was injured in the process, can also elevate the penalties. It can range from a class E felony up to a class A felony.
DWI With Drugs
A DWI with drugs is often treated very much like a DWI with alcohol: If you were driving with drugs in your system (even legal ones) that could impair your ability to drive, you can be accused of a DWI with drugs.
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
If the alleged offender was under the age of 18 when they supposedly broke any of the above laws, that is a juvenile drug crime case. This also includes some special crimes, such as a minor in possession of marijuana.
Juvenile Drug Crimes Penalty: The potential penalties are the same as for adults, but the defense strategies are different. Your juvenile drug crime lawyer can help you maximize your chances of exiting the regular legal process and using a Odessa, MO, diversionary program.
As you probably noticed, several of the above allegations carry felony consequences if convicted. To defend yourself against lifelong consequences, it’s imperitive to work with a talented felony drug crime lawyer to build your defense.
Federal Drug Charges in Odessa, 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 who can take on the United States Government right away.
What You Need in a Odessa, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
A Odessa, 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:
- Experience in Odessa, MO, courtrooms
- An interest in your well-being, not just your case
- Upfront and open payment structures
- Plans on how to defend against your charges
- 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.
Missouri’s Drug Treatment and Diversion Programs
Jury trials for drug cases are intimidating. They can be unforgiving and unpredictable. However, there is another way. Your drug crime lawyer advise you on special courts and diversionary programs that can protect your freedom.
While Missouri offers several different 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. Typically, drug testing is required on a regular basis in these programs.
Some other types of treatment courts in Missouri include DWI court, family treatment court, and/or juvenile court. These can be equally valuable, but are not set up in every county. Contact a drug crime lawyer to learn about what you have access to in Odessa, MO.
Getting Help: Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
Drug cases are convoluted. 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 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 that offers support options for people fighting addiction. They also feature FindTreatment.gov, which can assist in the process of finding help.
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 finding a treatment court option.
Missouri Drug Charges Legal Resources
Missouri Drug Laws Index
Because it’s easy to get lost when reading Missouri’s legal code, we’ve rewritten several key drug statutes in plain English for you to review.
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. If you’ve been given a court document that you can’t make sense of, this can be a useful resource.
The consequences of a drug charge are a big deal. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options that help you start over.
You Need a Skilled Odessa, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer. You Need Combs Waterkotte
Your Odessa, MO, drug crime lawyer should be doing more than “good enough” for your case. You should be getting ideas and strategies that are tailored to your circumstances.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Over 80 years of combined legal experience
- Extensive criminal defense resources
- Two former prosecutors who understand how the state thinks
- A reputation for success
Call us at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online to speak with a drug crime lawyer now.
