Drug Crime Lawyer in Riverside, MO. If someone makes drug-related allegations against you, you could be up against life-altering consequences. What’s worse, you could be charged with drug dealing instead of just possession. If you don’t work with a leading Riverside, MO, criminal defense lawyer, you could easily get lost in the complex legal system.
Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to ensuring our clients get fair, expert legal advice. Our team of legal experts is ready to defend against any drug charge in Riverside, MO, and won’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
If you need an expert Riverside, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re ready to talk to you today. Talk to one of our representatives now at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no-obligation review of your charges.
Riverside, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Summary
On this page, we overview what a drug crime lawyer in Riverside, MO, does to protect you, the different drug charges you can face 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 Riverside, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- What a Riverside, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Different Drug Charge Categories in Riverside, MO
- What You Need in a Riverside, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
- Alternatives to Court for Riverside, MO, Drug Charges
- Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
- Talk to a Drug Crime Lawyer in Riverside, MO, Today
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Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
How a Riverside, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Fights for You
When you contact an expert Riverside, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, you get skillful legal representation from day one. Wherever you are in the judicial process, you need to work with an attorney who will protect justice and defend your freedom.
Here are the steps we take to help after your call:
- 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, whether or not you broke the law, the consequences of trying to navigate an interrogation on your own are dire.
- Fight for Pretrial Release: If you’re facing drug charges in Riverside, 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.
- Decide on a Staunch Defense: 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.
- 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 present your case in court.
- Continue to Fight for Your Interests at Sentencing/Appeals/Parole: After a 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
There are many tactics that we can use when fighting drug charges. Below are some of the common strategies that your Riverside, MO, drug crime lawyer should consider:
Lack of Intent
If you didn’t mean to break the law, you might have an avenue to show your innocence. 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 using drug paraphernalia left them on your property, you can argue that you did not have intent to use them, and because of that, are innocent.
Mistaken Substance Analysis
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 can exploit that to have the evidence thrown out.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Your Fourth Amendment rights restrict the police’s ability to search you for evidence. This means that police need to either have a warrant or probable cause to search your person or property. Your Riverside, MO, drug crime lawyer can question the legitimacy of these warrants and probable cause inferences.
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. If you were a victim of entrapment, that can be grounds for a dismissal of your charges.
Drug possession defenses are different from those for some other types of accusations, namely, violent crimes. This is because many are vice crimes, so strategies like “self-defense” won’t work.
On the other hand, you can fight drug charges in unique ways, with unique defenses. For example, let’s look at a hypothetical marijuana criminal charge. While it is now legal in Missouri, 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 more than 3oz, 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.
Riverside, MO, Drug Charges We Fight and Their Consequences
Whatever drug crime you’ve been accused of, you need a strong Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 normally treated more seriously than simple possession. 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 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 has a wide range of definitions in Missouri, but they are all centered on the transport and distribution of large quantities of controlled substances.
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 charges arise when someone allegedly grew, mixed, or otherwise made a controlled substance.
Drug Manufacturing Penalty: Manufacturing penalties depend on the type of substance that was allegedly made and the amount. Some other factors, such as if someone was injured in the process, can also elevate the penalties. A conviction 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 driving while affected by any drugs (even legal ones) that make it unsafe to be on the road, you can be accused of a DWI with drugs.
DWI with Drugs Penalty: The penalty depends on whether you have any previous DWI convictions. If this is your first conviction, 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: Convictions can carry the same sentences for juveniles as for adults. That said, diversionary programs can help youths avoid the worst. Your juvenile drug crime lawyer can help you explore what youth diversionary options are available in Riverside, MO.
As you probably noticed, several of the above allegations carry felony consequences if convicted. To protect yourself from lifelong consequences, it’s vital to work with an experienced felony drug crime lawyer to build your defense.
Federal Drug Charges in Riverside, 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 as soon as possible.
Essential Qualities in a Riverside, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
Your Riverside, MO, drug crime lawyer can’t be just anyone. If you want to maximize your chances of a positive outcome, you need someone who has all of the following:
- Practice fighting cases in Riverside, MO
- An interest in your well-being, not just your case
- Upfront and understandable payment structures
- Plans on how to defend against your charges
- Experience working with the state and insights into their strategies
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 Riverside, MO, Drug Charges
A trial or a plea deal are the two main ways criminal cases are resolved. 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. In an effort to make more long-lasting, positive change in people’s lives, these courts are focused on helping people defeat addictions, rather than punishing them.
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, though they are not as widely available. Contact a drug crime lawyer to learn about what you have access to in Riverside, MO.
Getting Help: Resources to Help With Substance Abuse and Drug Crime Allegations
Criminal drug charges are complicated. The way laws regulate drug usage don’t always take the realities of addiction into account. But there are ways to find help. 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
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.
Your Freedom Is at Stake. Work With a Dominant Riverside, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
When you work with us, you’re working with a proven Riverside, MO, drug crime lawyer who takes your case seriously. We are ready to hear from you and will give you a defense you can be proud of.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Over 80 years of combined legal experience
- Expert criminal defense resources
- A client-centered approach
- A reputation for success
Get in touch with our team at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online to connect with a drug crime lawyer today.
