Drug Crime Lawyer in Waverly, MO. If someone makes drug-related allegations against you, you could be up against life-altering consequences. What’s worse, you could face elevated charges of distribution or trafficking. On your own, without a knowledgeable Waverly, MO, criminal defense lawyer, you’ll be in a tough battle against the state prosecutor.
Combs Waterkotte is here to help you avoid that fate. Your attorney from Combs Waterkotte is ready to defend against any drug charge in Waverly, MO, and a team that is available around the clock if you have any questions or need any help.
If you need an expert Waverly, MO, drug crime lawyer, we’re just a call away. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a no strings attached case review.
Waverly, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer: Page Summary
Below, we overview what a drug crime lawyer in Waverly, 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 Waverly, MO.
If there’s a specific topic you want to learn more about, you can jump ahead using the links below:
- What a Waverly, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Does
- Waverly, MO, Drug Charges We Defend and Their Penalties
- Waverly, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Essential Qualities
- Different Diversionary Pathways for Drug Accusations in Waverly, MO
- Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
- Connect With a Drug Crime Lawyer in Waverly, MO, Today
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
How a Waverly, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer Fights for You
When you call an experienced Waverly, MO, drug crime lawyer from Combs Waterkotte, we start working on your defense immediately. No matter what stage your case is in, you need to have an attorney on your side to fight for justice 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:
- Listen to Your Story: The outcome of your case matters, but so does your experience while you fight it. We want to know you, and how we can best help.
- Protect You During Interrogations: In every case, whether or not you broke the law, having a lawyer in the room with you can protect you from negative outcomes.
- Argue for Pretrial Release: Not everyone accused of a crime in Waverly, MO, is given 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 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 bargain with the district attorney to see if we can have your charges dropped or dismissed.
- 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.
- Represent You for 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.
Powerful Tactics We Use to Fight Drug Crime Allegations
There are many tactics that we can use when fighting drug charges. 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, you might have an avenue to show your innocence. This is particularly relevant to drug crime cases, where 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.
Lab Analysis Errors
To be convicted of possession, distributing, or manufacturing an illegal substance, the state needs to show that the substance in question was, in fact, illegal. 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.
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 Waverly, 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 were a victim of entrapment, that can be grounds for a dismissal of your 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 defenses like “self-defense” aren’t applicable.
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 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 4oz, you can claim that there was a measurement error and you did not violate the law.
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, violating alcohol regulations, and certain kinds of gambling.
Drug Allegations We Fight in Waverly, MO
There’s no such thing as a drug accusation in Waverly, MO, that isn’t serious. Here are some of the charges we will defend you against:
Drug Possession
Drug possession is in many ways the default drug crime people are accused of in Waverly, MO. You would ‘possess’ a drug if you allegedly had it on your person, or it was somewhere else, but you had control over it.
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 is typically much more lenient, either a class A or class D misdemeanor).
Drug Distribution
Drug distribution is a step up from regular possession charges. 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 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. The exact level of felony also depends on other circumstances, such as if someone was hurt or killed in the production process. A conviction 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 impact your awareness and ability to drive, you can face drug DWI accusations.
DWI with Drugs Penalty: These sentences vary depending on your driving history. 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 maximize your chances of exiting the regular legal process and using a Waverly, MO, diversionary program.
As you probably noticed, most of these allegations can be charged as a felony. To defend yourself against years behind bars, it’s critical to work with a skillful felony drug crime lawyer to fight your case.
Federal Drug Charges in Waverly, MO
In cases where the federal government has decided to take over, building a strong defense is more critical than ever. Federal prosecutors are often even tougher than state prosecutors, and frequently have higher conviction rates. 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.
What to Look For in a Waverly, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
A Waverly, MO, drug crimes attorney with skill and knowledge is essential to help you win your case. An ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in Waverly, MO, courtrooms
- Care for how you’re doing
- Fair 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.
Treatment and Diversion Programs for Waverly, MO, Drug Charges
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 jail.
While Missouri has many drug treatment courts, adult treatment courts are the most widely available. 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. 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 also offer alternatives to prison and the traditional court process, however, not every city has them available. Contact a drug crime lawyer to see what you have access to in Waverly, MO.
Getting Help: Substance Abuse and Legal Resources
Criminal drug charges are convoluted. The government’s rules don’t always take real-life circumstances into account. But there are ways to find help. Below, you can review 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 which, amongst other goals, is focused on fighting substance abuse in America. They also feature FindTreatment.gov, which offers confidential and anonymous assistance with getting help.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA offers information regarding commonly abused substances, news in the space, and conducts research trials in attempts to fight addiction.
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 to make them easier to understand.
Missouri Legal FAQs
Our legal FAQs provide answers to several of the questions you might be thinking about asking your drug crime lawyer.
Legal Glossary
Our legal glossary gives definitions for court and legal terms. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve received a letter filled with legal jargon that you’re trying to interpret.
Facing drug charges can turn your life upside down. But with the right drug crime lawyer, you can find options to get back on your feet and move forward.
Your Freedom Is at Stake. Work With a Premier Waverly, MO, Drug Crime Lawyer
Your Waverly, MO, drug crime lawyer should be doing more than “good enough” for your case. You should be getting expert legal representation and working with someone who puts you first.
At Combs Waterkotte, we have:
- Over 80 years of combined legal experience
- Extensive criminal defense resources
- A client-centered approach
- A reputation for success
Call one of our representatives at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online to connect with a drug crime lawyer now.
