Lexington, MO gun charges attorney you can trust. Arrested for a firearm offense in Lexington, MO? You need immediate help from a defense firm that knows Missouri’s gun laws and the strategies prosecutors use in and around Lexington. Combs Waterkotte represents clients in all types of state and federal firearm cases, including unlawful weapon use, possession by a prohibited person, and armed criminal action. We move quickly to challenge the evidence, protect your record, and fight for your freedom.
If you’ve been charged with a gun offense, time is critical. Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online now for a free, confidential consultation with a proven gun crime attorney in Lexington, MO. With over 60 years of combined legal experience and more than 10,000 successful cases, Combs Waterkotte delivers the experience and results you can trust.
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Summary of This Page
This article details how Combs Waterkotte defends clients facing firearm charges throughout Lexington, MO and across Missouri. It explores the most common gun offenses—including unlawful weapon use, prohibited possession, and armed criminal action—and explains where state law limits the right to carry. The content highlights the firm’s focus on challenging unconstitutional searches, analyzing the prosecution’s evidence, and defending Second Amendment rights. With decades of courtroom experience and a history of achieving dismissals and reduced charges, Combs Waterkotte stands out as a trusted advocate for those accused of serious gun crimes in state or federal court.
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Common Firearm Offenses We Handle in Lexington, MO
Combs Waterkotte’s defense team has successfully represented clients facing a wide range of state and federal gun charges in Missouri. Our attorneys regularly defend against allegations such as:
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW) — Accusations of carrying a weapon into restricted areas, brandishing it in anger, firing recklessly, or possessing while intoxicated.
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm — Charges against individuals barred from possession due to prior convictions, restraining orders, or probation conditions.
- Armed Criminal Action (ACA) — Accusations of using or carrying a firearm during the commission of another felony offense.
- Unlawful Sale or Transfer of a Firearm — Selling, lending, or delivering a firearm contrary to statute or to a prohibited person.
- Defaced or “Ghost” Guns — Possession or distribution of firearms with removed serial numbers or without traceable identification.
- School Zone or Restricted Area Violations — Carrying firearms on school property or in areas posted as weapon-free zones.
- Municipal Weapons Offenses — Defending city-level gun cases in Lexington, MO, Jackson County, and surrounding jurisdictions.
- Sentence Enhancements — “Dangerous offender,” prior/persistent offender status, or firearm sentencing enhancements tied to drug or violent felony cases.
Federal Gun Charges in Lexington, MO
When federal agencies such as the ATF, FBI, or DEA get involved, gun-related cases in Lexington, MO may be prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Common federal firearm statutes include 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), which prohibits possession by certain individuals, and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which criminalizes carrying or using a firearm during a drug or violent crime. Federal firearm prosecutions carry mandatory minimums and exposure under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Our defense attorneys have decades of experience navigating the Lexington, MO federal court system, developing strategies to challenge unlawful searches, suppress evidence, and negotiate from a position of strength in both state and federal forums.
Restricted Areas for Firearms in and Around Lexington, MO
Missouri offers broad gun rights under its state gun laws, including permitless constitutional carry for most adults. However, Missouri law does not permit carrying a firearm everywhere. According to RSMo. §571.107, there are specific places—such as courthouses, schools, polling places, and certain private properties—where firearms are strictly prohibited within the Lexington, MO region:
- Police stations, sheriff’s offices, or highway patrol facilities (unless authorized by the officer in charge)
- Within 25 feet of a polling location on election day
- Any jail, prison, or correctional institution
- Courthouses and offices used for court business
- Meetings of government bodies
- Establishments licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises
- Airports beyond security checkpoints
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Buildings or areas used for child care
- Publicly accessible riverboat casinos
- Secured or gated amusement park areas
- Private properties or businesses that post “no firearms” signage
- Sports arenas or stadiums with seating for 5,000 or more
- Hospitals
Missouri’s Castle Doctrine: Know Your Self-Defense Rights in Lexington
The Castle Doctrine, often referred to as Missouri’s “stand your ground” law, gives individuals the right to use force, even deadly force, to defend themselves, their loved ones, and their property from an immediate threat. Under RSMo. §563.031, people in Lexington, MO have the legal right to protect themselves when confronted with unlawful entry or aggression, without being required to retreat first.
When Deadly Force is Justified in Lexington, MO
Missouri law allows a person to use deadly force in limited circumstances, including when they reasonably believe it is necessary to:
- Prevent death, serious physical injury, or the commission of a forcible felony against themselves or another individual.
- Defend your home, residence, or vehicle from an unlawful entry or attempted intrusion.
- Protect private property they own, rent, or are legally authorized to occupy from an unlawful intrusion.
In practice, this means that if an intruder forces entry into your Lexington, MO-area home, vehicle, or property, you are legally permitted to use force to defend yourself without first retreating.
The Castle Doctrine also includes Missouri’s no duty to retreat provision. This law states that individuals do not have to retreat before using lawful defensive force when they are in:
- A dwelling, residence, or vehicle they lawfully occupy
- Private property they own or lease
- Any location where they have a lawful right to be
Put simply, as long as you are acting lawfully and have a legal right to be where you are in Lexington, MO, the law upholds your right to stand your ground and defend yourself.
Still, Castle Doctrine and self-defense cases in Lexington, MO require a strong, detailed legal approach. Prosecutors often dispute whether the threat you faced justified the use of force. The criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte meticulously build your defense, examining forensic evidence, surveillance footage, and eyewitness statements to prove your response was lawful. Our firm has successfully protected clients throughout Lexington and across Missouri who acted in self-defense under Castle Doctrine principles.
Consequences of a Gun Conviction in Lexington, MO
Every gun charges case in Lexington, MO is different. Punishment and exposure vary by charge, facts, and criminal history, but firearm cases often carry:
- Incarceration, significant jail or prison time, especially for armed criminal action or federal gun offenses with mandatory minimums.
- Felony conviction status that damages job prospects, professional licensing, housing options, and the right to vote or own firearms.
- Strict probation conditions requiring compliance with court-ordered conditions, searches, and monitoring.
- Immigration risks for non-citizens if the offense is deemed a firearms or “crime of violence” category.
- Stacked charges like DWI, domestic violence, or drug possession in Lexington, MO, which increase sentencing exposure.
We frequently secure charge reductions, suppression of evidence, SIS (suspended imposition of sentence)/SES (suspended execution of sentence) dispositions where appropriate under Missouri law, and alternative outcomes that keep clients working and out of custody.
Lexington, MO Gun Charges Attorney: Crafting a Strong Defense
The foundation of a powerful defense is exposing how the evidence was obtained—and whether law enforcement followed the law. Many gun-related arrests in Lexington, MO begin with traffic stops or searches that violate the Fourth Amendment. Our attorneys scrutinize every report, dashcam video, and bodycam clip to uncover unlawful police conduct. When a stop, detention, or search lacks legal justification, we move swiftly to suppress the firearm and related evidence, often leading to a full dismissal of charges.
Our proven defense methods for Lexington, MO gun cases include:
- Fourth Amendment challenges: We challenge traffic stops, pat-downs, and searches that exceed lawful limits, ensuring unconstitutional evidence never reaches trial.
- Lack of intent / exhibition element: Displaying or carrying a weapon isn’t automatically a threat. We demonstrate when your conduct was lawful or defensive.
- Constructive possession: Prosecutors must prove knowledge and control. In shared homes or vehicles, that link is often weak or nonexistent.
- Location & signage: If firearm restrictions weren’t properly posted, the charge may not hold up.
- Challenging prohibited-person designations: We verify convictions, release dates, and protection orders to challenge incorrect or outdated information.
- Intoxication allegations: Being near a firearm while impaired isn’t the same as using it dangerously. We demand evidence tying intoxication to unsafe conduct.
- Evidence handling and forensics: We evaluate how physical evidence was tested, logged, and preserved to expose chain-of-custody errors.
- Federal jurisdiction issues: For federal firearm counts, we examine interstate elements and sentencing enhancements line by line to limit exposure.
Facing Lexington, MO gun charges? When you hire a Combs Waterkotte gun charges lawyer in the Lexington, MO area, you’re not simply partnering with the ideal gun charges attorney in Lexington, MO and beyond – you are securing your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with a knowledgeable gun charges attorney, our staff is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for Lexington, MO residents:
- DWI Lawyer With Payment Plans
- Felony Defense Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer with Payment Plans
- DWI Lawyer With Payment Plan
How Our Lexington, MO Gun Charges Lawyers Build Your Defense
When you hire our team of relentless Lexington, MO gun charges lawyers, you get more than standard representation—you get a proven defense strategy built on precision, preparation, and results. Here’s what makes our approach different from other criminal defense firms in Lexington and across Missouri:
1. Rapid Response and Evidence Preservation
The first hours after a gun arrest are critical. Our gun charges defense team in Lexington, MO immediately contacts prosecutors, reviews bond conditions, and files motions to preserve key evidence such as bodycam and dashcam footage, Ring or surveillance video, CAD logs, and dispatch recordings. Acting quickly ensures that crucial proof of unlawful police conduct or inconsistencies in the prosecution’s story is not lost or overwritten.
2. Search & Seizure Audit
Every report, video, and officer statement is examined line by line for constitutional violations. If the stop, frisk, vehicle search, or seizure of the firearm violated your Fourth Amendment rights, we file aggressive motions to suppress that evidence. When a gun is thrown out of evidence, most prosecutions collapse before trial.
3. Possession & Element Testing
Our attorneys meticulously analyze what the prosecution must prove—including possession, knowledge, and intent, and pinpoint where their evidence fails. In cases involving multiple occupants or shared spaces, we build a clear, fact-based argument showing that the weapon cannot be directly linked to you, frequently resulting in reduced or dismissed charges.
4. Building Context and Humanizing the Lexington Case
Your story matters, and we make sure it’s heard. We highlight your employment, family responsibilities, military or firearm training, and community contributions to humanize you before the court. Our mitigation packets, supported by documentation, letters, and verified background, help prosecutors and judges see the person behind the charge, not just the police report.
5. Litigation Strength & Negotiation Power
At Combs Waterkotte, our reputation for being trial-ready gives us a distinct advantage in negotiations. Prosecutors know we prepare every case with the expectation that it could go before a jury, and that confidence changes how they approach us. This leverage often results in reduced charges, better plea options, or complete dismissals. And if trial becomes necessary, we present a focused, compelling defense that earns the respect of judges and juries alike.
6. Protecting Your Future Beyond the Lexington, MO Case
When a conviction can’t be avoided, our goal shifts to minimizing the impact on your life and record. Your Lexington, MO gun crime lawyer explores every alternative resolution—SIS or SES dispositions, diversion programs, and other options that prevent a permanent conviction. We also guide you through the expungement process where eligible, ensuring one charge doesn’t limit your opportunities for years to come.
What Missouri Law Says About Firearms
Common pitfalls our gun charges attorney in Lexington, MO sees include:
- Concealment & Transport Rules: How and where the firearm is carried in a vehicle can matter.
- Guns and Alcohol: Having or using a firearm while under the influence in Lexington, MO can quickly escalate to an unlawful use of a weapon (UUW) charge.
- Prohibited Persons in Lexington, MO: People with certain prior convictions, specific court orders, or conditions of probation/parole may be barred from possession.
- Brandishing/Exhibiting: Exhibiting a firearm in an “angry or threatening” way can turn a misunderstanding into a criminal case overnight.
In short: Context (location, manner of carry, status, and conduct) drives whether conduct is lawful. Our job is to bring that context to the forefront and challenge overbroad or unsupported allegations.
The Advantage of Working with Combs Waterkotte on Your Lexington, MO Gun Case
Choosing the right gun crime lawyer in Lexington, MO is one of the most important decisions you’ll make after an arrest. At Combs Waterkotte, our attorneys deliver relentless, results-driven defense strategies backed by decades of experience fighting firearm and weapons charges in Missouri’s toughest courtrooms.
- Client-Focused Defense: We take the time to understand your goals and concerns, building a defense strategy tailored to your situation. You’ll always know what’s happening and how we’re protecting you every step of the way in the Lexington, MO area.
- Prepared for Trial in Lexington, MO: We prepare every Lexington, MO case as if it will go before a jury. This level of preparation not only strengthens your defense but also gives us leverage in negotiations. Prosecutors know when Combs Waterkotte is on a case, we’re ready to fight it all the way.
- Unmatched Legal Resources: Our firm partners with leading investigators, forensic analysts, and firearm experts to dismantle weak evidence and expose procedural flaws. We use science, strategy, and skill to challenge every detail of the State’s case.
- A Record of Success in Lexington, MO: Our attorneys have decades of courtroom experience and a long list of favorable outcomes. We’ve defended countless firearm cases, from unlawful use to federal gun indictments, and consistently deliver results for our clients.
Take Action Now — Speak with a Lexington, MO Gun Crime Attorney at Combs Waterkotte
When you’re accused of a firearm offense in Lexington, MO, every moment counts. The earlier you have experienced defense on your side, the stronger your case will be. Call (314) 900-HELP or contact us online now for a free consultation. Our attorneys will move fast to protect your rights, your record, and your freedom.
