Being charged with a criminal offense can feel daunting, especially considering your freedom, reputation, and family’s welfare may all be on the line. You need an experienced and talented team in your corner who can fight for your future.
The compassionate team at The Bates and Merryman Law Firm LLC is dedicated to protecting the rights of clients facing a range of difficult circumstances. Whether you’re dealing with a drug charge or need help with an appeal, we are the advocates you can trust.
Crimes are prosecuted by the Kansas City Prosecutor’s Office, the Jackson County Prosecutor, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We can help you if you are charged with any of the following:
A night of celebration in the Power and Light District or elsewhere in the area can quickly land you in jail if officers believe you are driving while intoxicated. Police often mistake simple driving errors as signs of impairment or intoxication. As long as officers have probable cause to believe you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you can be arrested and face charges.
A driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction can damage your driving record, cause your insurance rates to skyrocket, and impact your career. Retaining an experienced DWI attorney in Kansas City can be key to avoiding a conviction or minimizing the potential consequences of one.
State and federal drug charges often follow questionable police activity and unconstitutional searches. Nonetheless, if you plead guilty or are convicted of drug charges like manufacturing or trafficking, you could end up with a lengthy prison sentence. Before you accept a plea deal in your drug case, allow us to review your situation.
If your Fourth Amendment or other constitutional rights were violated, the evidence law enforcement obtained may be suppressed. This can lead to a reduction or dismissal of your charges.
Only a knowledgeable drug defense lawyer can tell whether you have a defense to your drug allegations, so it’s vital to schedule a consultation with us as soon as possible if you are dealing with these charges.
The stigma of a criminal conviction on your record can haunt you long after you have completed your sentence. You could find obtaining a job, enrolling in a degree or trade program, or finding housing challenging.
Expungement can give you a fresh start if you have fully satisfied your sentence. Speak with The Bates and Merryman Law Firm LLC about your eligibility. If qualified, we can help you break free from your criminal past.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, prosecutes alleged violations of federal law. With its near-limitless resources, the DOJ has significant leverage over defendants.
The most effective way of fighting back is to retain a skilled Kansas City criminal defense and litigation lawyer from our team. We are not intimidated by the DOJ and will defend your case competently and aggressively.
Although juveniles cannot be jailed, both parents and their children can be penalized for violating the law. These matters can follow your child around into adulthood, harming their future education and job prospects. In severe cases, the prosecution may seek to certify your child as an adult and prosecute them under the adult criminal justice system.
Juvenile law differs in several important regards from the law applicable to adults, and it is important that your defense attorney understand these differences. The Bates and Merryman Law Firm is fully capable of representing your child and providing them with a quality defense.
Agencies like the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency also have the power to fine or jail individuals who violate federal regulations. State agencies have similar authorities. These regulations can be complicated to understand, but you may face consequences for violating them, even if you didn’t intend to.
You can trust our team to help defend you through any administrative hearings and courtroom proceedings.
Allegations of sexual misconduct can be difficult to defend against, considering these acts often occur behind closed doors and away from others. As a result, when news of arrests and indictments for sex crimes are made public, those accused can often feel guilty before they are even tried.
Having experienced help in preparing and presenting a defense is crucial, and not just because these crimes can carry sentences involving years in prison. If convicted of a sex crime, you will likely have to register as a sex offender and deal with the reputational consequences of this as well.
It is essential that you are proactive and speak with us right away if you’ve been charged with a sex crime.
A speeding citation or being charged with driving without insurance may not seem like a significant matter, but either should still be taken seriously. Accumulating too many traffic convictions can lead to the suspension or revocation of your driving privileges.
Moreover, many insurance companies will raise your premiums in response to convictions for traffic offenses.
Some of the most serious offenses in Kansas City are those that allege harm or endangerment to others. Murder, robbery, and battery against an intimate partner are all examples of crimes that can land you in jail awaiting trial. You may also have your right to carry and possess a firearm temporarily or permanently revoked, depending on the severity of your crime.
Police and prosecutors often depend on eyewitness identification to arrest and charge a suspect. Such identifications can be unreliable, and other evidence gathered may be either illegally obtained or inconclusive. The Bates and Merryman Law Firm LLC team can expose the weaknesses in your case and help you successfully resolve your charges.
Embezzlement, identity fraud, and computer-related offenses all typically fall under the umbrella of white-collar crimes. Many people believe these crimes don’t carry heavy sentences since they don’t usually involve violence. However, you can expect a lengthy prison term and an order to pay restitution if you are convicted of one of these offenses.
At The Bates and Merryman Law Firm LLC, our team also has experience with representing entertainers as agents. We are able to represent athletes and entertainers in negotiating contracts and a variety of other legal matters.
You still have options for relief even after pleading or being found guilty at trial. The Missouri and federal appeals processes serve to correct errors made at trial. However, your appeal rights are subject to strict deadlines and procedural hurdles that you must comply with. Otherwise, your appeal can be dismissed, regardless of its merits.
No matter who represented you at trial or if you took a plea deal, The Bates and Merryman Law Firm LLC can help you exercise your appeal rights. Significant errors could lead to your sentence being vacated or even a new trial. Contact us quickly to learn more and take action.
We bring this same zeal and passion for justice in criminal defense to our personal injury cases. Whether you have been injured in a car wreck or hurt in a slip and fall accident, our Kansas City personal injury attorneys can fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
As trial attorneys, we are not afraid to take your case to court to ensure you receive a fair settlement. We fight for what you deserve — not settle for what they offer.
No matter the legal difficulty you are facing in Missouri, the right legal representation can safeguard your rights and your future. Contact The Bates and Merryman Law Firm LLC to speak with a team of legal professionals you can rely on today.
If you have been arrested or believe you may be the target of a criminal investigation, contact the criminal defense attorneys at The Bates & Merryman Law Firm today.
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