St. Louis Drug Crimes Lawyer

Have you or a loved one been charged with a drug crime? Whether it is your first or sixth offense, these are serious charges. A St. Louis drug crime lawyer with JCS Law can aggressively defend against these and many other charges.

Getting good legal representation is crucial to protect your future. Many first-time offenders make the horrible mistake of going to court and pleading guilty without an criminal defense lawyer, just to take the punishment and be done with it.

This mistake can literally affect the rest of your life, making it hard to go to school or gain employment. Don’t make the same mistake; call an St. Louis drug crime lawyer today at (314) 561-9690 and schedule your free consultation with a trusted criminal defense lawyer.

Strong defense for all kinds of drug crimes

Our St. Louis drug crime defense attorneys represent clients accused of possessing, distributing, manufacturing, and trafficking illegal drugs. Below are just some of the charges we help defend.

• Possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or synthetic drugs (Spice/synthetic marijuana or bath salts)
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Distribution
• Possession of chemical with intent to manufacture
• Manufacture of a controlled substance
• Possession of a controlled substance in a jail or county jail
• Trafficking
• Unlawful use or possession of prescription drugs

We represent clients facing charges in St. Louis County, the City of St. Louis, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, and throughout eastern Missouri.

We can help with felony charges, too

All illegal drugs, other than 35 grams or less of marijuana, are charged as felonies in St. Louis County and throughout the State of Missouri. Felony charges for possession of a controlled substance may include heroin, tar, MDMA, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, ketamine, mushrooms, hash oil, wax, or other drugs.

Some people are shocked to learn that they can be charged with a felony for using someone else’s prescription drugs- even for a legitimate purpose. Xanax, clonazepam, Ritalin, oxycontin, and hydrocodone are common drugs that lead to felony charges.

What are possible defenses to a Missouri drug charge?

Principal attorney John Schleiffarth and the skilled lawyers at JCS Law understand how to aggressively fight drug charges in St. Louis. Possession of heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and other prescription controlled substances such as Xanax, Percocet, and hydrocodone are commonly prosecuted as felony offenses in St. Louis County and elsewhere.

Drug cases are complex and many police officers make mistakes in their investigations. If you want a bold and aggressive St. Louis drug crime lawyer on your side, call us today and schedule your free consultation with Attorney John Schleiffarth, you’ll be glad you did.

In order to successfully defend your drug case, we identify where the cops went wrong. Officers often make mistakes such as:

• Making illegal searches
• Making illegal seizures
• Misleading judges when seeking a search warrant
• Putting false information in police reports to bolster their case
• Setting up citizens illegally through entrapment
• Making arrests without evidence that the drugs belong to the person arrested
• Misusing drug dogs to avoid a search warrant requirement
• Making illegal traffic stops

The drug crime defense lawyers at JCS Law scrutinize the state’s evidence to determine what types of evidence can be suppressed and excluded from being considered in your case. When a constitutional right has been violated, we can file a motion to suppress evidence which will allow us to exclude illegally obtained evidence in a drug charge.

What is the drug crime defense process in Missouri?

1. Arrest and release

If you are charged with a drug crime in St. Louis or eastern Missouri you will likely be arrested and released before you are formally charged.

2. Drug testing

At this point, prosecutors will likely test the drugs that were seized before charges are filed.

Seized drugs are tested at the state crime lab through two processes called gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. If the state crime lab confirms the drugs are what the police suspected, a report will be sent to the prosecuting attorney and the prosecutor will file charges.

3. Warrant issued

Once charges are filed the court will issue a warrant for your arrest. A bond will be set, and you will need to post bond (or bail) at the county jail. In St. Louis County, most drug charges qualify for a 10% cash bond. One of our experienced attorneys can walk you through posting bond and can file for a bond reduction if needed.

4. Begin defense

At JCS Law we then begin aggressively defending your case by filing pre-trial motions to suppress evidence along with a thorough request for any and all evidence the state has against you.

Once we have all of the evidence in your case, we analyze the facts and look at the best defenses for your particular case. Lab reports can also be challenged.

For instance, sometimes the state crime lab accidentally switches drug samples with another case, uses contaminated samples, or does not maintain a clear chain of custody for evidence. This can lead to the charges in your case being dismissed.

5. Explore the option of drug court

Some clients charged with drug crimes are struggling with addiction. There are various treatment programs, including St. Louis County, City of St. Louis, and St. Charles County drug courts, which provide alternatives to traditional prosecution.

These drug courts are designed to help someone with addiction get sober and stay clean from drugs in the future. For some clients, drug court is an excellent option. Our lawyers are experienced in getting approval for drug court, guiding clients through the drug court process, and helping clients keep their jobs throughout the process.

6. Fight for the best option

Plea negotiations often lead to reduced charges and lenient sentences. By taking steps to prepare each case for trial from the beginning, our lawyers are able to negotiate from a position of strength and secure excellent plea deals.

As diligent St. Louis drug crime lawyers, our goals are your goals. If no plea deal is desired, or no acceptable plea deal can be reached, the next step is to prepare a case fully for trial. We can subpoena witnesses before your trial and question them under oath during a deposition.

At a deposition, the officer or other witness is placed under oath and one of our experienced lawyers questions them at length in preparation for a successful trial. A successful deposition will often lead to a breakthrough in plea negotiations.

If you choose to take your case to trial, our team’s preparation, passion, and skill will be on display in defense of your case. 12 jurors must unanimously agree on a verdict. The state will present its evidence, we will present our evidence, and after arguments, the jury will deliberate and vote on whether they believe you are guilty or not guilty. The level of proof required in a criminal case is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Charged with a drug crime in St. Louis? We’re ready to help.

If you are facing a drug charge, call an experienced St. Louis drug crime lawyer with JCS Law for a free consultation. We will explain your options to you, evaluate your best defenses, and help you see the way forward. Call (314) 561-9690 to get started today.