1. Wichman Law Firm LLC
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, traffic violations, protection order defense
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, traffic violations, protection orders (restraining orders/injunctions), assault, theft, weapons charges
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, motion practice, jury trials, protection order defense, traffic ticket defense
Background: Kevin Wichman has defended clients since 2010 in courts throughout the Kansas City area. He is licensed to practice in Kansas and Missouri. He was named a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters in 2024, a distinction limited to the top 5% of attorneys. He was voted Best Criminal Defense Attorney and Best Law Firm by the Kansas City Star newspaper. The firm handles cases in Kansas City (MO and KS), Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County, Cass County, and surrounding areas.
Location: Westport office, Kansas City, Missouri
Contact: https://www.wichmanlawfirm.com
Consultation: Available
2. Watt and Young Law Firm
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, sex crimes, drug offenses, weapons charges, DUI/DWI, domestic violence, property crimes, federal criminal defense
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, sex crimes, drug crimes, weapons offenses, DUI/DWI, domestic violence, property crimes (stealing, burglary, robbery, arson), federal criminal charges, homicide
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, federal court representation, sentencing memorandum preparation, motion practice, jury trials
Background: Gregory Watt and Allison (Ali) Young provide criminal defense representation in Kansas City. The firm is licensed to practice in both Kansas and Missouri. Gregory Watt is frequently consulted by local news channels for legal analysis due to his courtroom success and reputation. The firm is located in downtown Kansas City at 700 Broadway Boulevard. The attorneys focus on developing comprehensive defense strategies including negotiating plea agreements, preparing for trial, and presenting mitigating factors at sentencing.
Location: 700 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105
Contact: https://kcmetrodefense.com
Consultation: Available
3. KC Defense Counsel
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, domestic assault, armed robbery, kidnapping, traffic defense
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, city ordinance violations, armed robbery, kidnapping, felony drug possession, DUI/DWI, domestic assault, traffic citations, probation violations
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, motion practice, trial preparation, traffic ticket defense, expungements
Background: The firm consists of three experienced criminal defense attorneys: Jordan R. Watson, Justin Hunt, and additional attorneys. Jordan R. Watson has represented clients charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, involuntary manslaughter, tampering with a motor vehicle, and other serious offenses. He began his career as a public defender in Lake County, Ohio. Justin Hunt graduated from the University of Kansas in 2011 and attended Santa Clara University School of Law. The firm has represented thousands of people charged with crimes ranging from city ordinance violations to serious felonies. The firm handles cases throughout the Kansas City metro area.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Contact: (816) 287-3787 | https://kcdefensecounsel.com
Consultation: Available
4. Spradlin Kennedy Law Firm
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, domestic violence, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, domestic violence, assault, theft, weapons charges
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, motion practice, constitutional rights protection, DUI defense, personal injury representation
Background: Tracy Spradlin and Dan Kennedy lead the firm. The attorneys have experience in handling DUI cases and criminal charges in the Kansas City area. The firm is knowledgeable about Kansas and Missouri DUI laws and local legal systems. The attorneys provide personalized attention and strategic defense tailored to individual circumstances.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Contact: (816) 542-3019 | https://spradlinkennedy.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available
5. Solomon and Peter, LLP
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, drug offenses, homicide, assault, domestic assault, robbery, theft, burglary, fraud, white collar crimes, DUI/DWI, expungements
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, drug offenses (possession, trafficking), homicide, assault, domestic assault, robbery, stealing, burglary, fraud, white collar crimes, DUI/DWI, traffic offenses
Legal Services: Trial defense in municipal, state, and federal courts, plea negotiations, expungements, motion practice, jury trials
Background: The firm handles criminal defense cases in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, including both misdemeanors and felonies in municipal, state, and federal courts. The attorneys have extensive experience with serious felonies and can provide representation in complex criminal matters. The firm also handles post-conviction relief through expungements for eligible clients.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Contact: https://www.solomonandpeter.com
Consultation: Available
Criminal Defense Regulations in Missouri
The Missouri Bar regulates all attorneys practicing in Missouri. Attorneys must pass the Missouri Bar Examination (now part of the Uniform Bar Examination system) and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). Missouri adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in 2018. The passing score for the UBE in Missouri is 260. Attorneys must complete 15 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) annually, including 3 hours of professional responsibility/ethics.
Missouri does not offer formal board certification in criminal law specialty through the state bar. However, attorneys may hold certifications from national organizations such as the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Missouri’s public defender system is administered by the Missouri State Public Defender System (MSPD), which provides representation to indigent defendants in criminal cases. The Kansas City area is served by public defender offices in Jackson County. Eligibility for public defender services is based on financial guidelines established by state law. If the public defender has a conflict of interest, the court appoints private counsel through a panel system.
Missouri classifies felonies into Classes A through E, with Class A being the most serious: Class A felonies carry 10 to 30 years or life imprisonment (examples include first-degree murder, first-degree robbery); Class B felonies carry 5 to 15 years imprisonment; Class C felonies carry 3 to 10 years imprisonment (or up to 1 year in county jail); Class D felonies carry up to 7 years imprisonment (or up to 1 year in county jail); Class E felonies carry up to 4 years imprisonment (or up to 1 year in county jail). Misdemeanors are classified as Class A (up to 1 year in jail), Class B (up to 6 months), Class C (up to 15 days), and Class D (no jail, fine only).
Missouri does not have the death penalty for offenses committed after August 28, 2023, following a state supreme court ruling. However, executions may still be carried out for defendants already sentenced to death.
Missouri’s expungement law under Section 610.140 RSMo allows sealing of criminal records for eligible offenses. Over 1,900 offenses qualify for expungement. Ineligible offenses include: Class A felonies, offenses requiring sex offender registration, felony offenses where death is an element, felony assault, domestic assault, and kidnapping, and certain other enumerated offenses. Eligibility requirements include: completion of all sentence requirements (probation, parole, fines, restitution), three-year waiting period for felonies (one year for misdemeanors) after sentence completion, no pending criminal charges, and no new criminal convictions during the waiting period. Lifetime limits apply: no more than two felony expungements and three misdemeanor expungements per person. The petition must be filed in the court where the conviction occurred.
Missouri bail and pretrial release is governed by Missouri Supreme Court Rules and state statutes. Defendants have a right to bail in most cases, except for capital offenses or when the defendant poses a danger to the community. The court considers factors including the nature of the offense, criminal history, ties to the community, and flight risk. Jackson County (Kansas City) operates its own pretrial services program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after an arrest in Kansas City, Missouri?
After arrest in Kansas City, the defendant is booked at a detention facility. For most offenses, the defendant will have an initial appearance before a judge within 24 hours (not counting weekends and court holidays) if in custody. At the initial appearance, the court informs the defendant of the charges, advises of constitutional rights (including the right to an attorney), sets bail or release conditions, and schedules future court dates. For felonies, the prosecutor must file formal charges within a specified time frame, or the defendant must be released. A preliminary hearing is held for felony cases to determine probable cause, unless the defendant waives the hearing or is indicted by a grand jury.
How does the Jackson County criminal court system work?
Jackson County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases. The 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri (Jackson County) has a Criminal Division that processes felony arraignments, preliminary hearings, motions, trials, and sentencing. Misdemeanor cases may be handled by the municipal courts within Kansas City or by the associate circuit court. The Kansas City Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and some misdemeanors. All courts in Jackson County are part of Missouri Case.net, allowing online access to case information.
What are the penalties for DUI/DWI in Missouri?
Missouri DUI/DWI (referred to as “DWI” or “Driving While Intoxicated”) penalties vary based on the number of prior offenses: First offense (Class B misdemeanor): up to 6 months in jail, fines up to $1,000, 90-day license suspension, and possible restricted driving privileges. Second offense (Class A misdemeanor): up to 1 year in jail, fines up to $2,000, 1-year license revocation, and possible ignition interlock device requirement. Third offense (Class D felony): up to 7 years in prison, 10-year license denial, and possible ignition interlock. Fourth and subsequent offenses (Class C felony): up to 10 years in prison. Missouri has a “persistent offender” status for those with two or more prior DWI convictions. Aggravated offenses (such as causing injury or death, excessive BAC, or having a minor in the vehicle) carry enhanced penalties.
Can I get my criminal record expunged in Missouri?
Many Missouri criminal records are eligible for expungement under Section 610.140 RSMo. To qualify, you must have completed your sentence (including probation, parole, fines, and restitution), waited three years after sentence completion for felonies (one year for misdemeanors), have no new criminal convictions during the waiting period (excluding minor traffic violations), and have no pending criminal charges. Ineligible offenses include Class A felonies, sex offenses requiring registration, felonies involving death, domestic assault, and certain other enumerated crimes. You may expunge up to two felonies and three misdemeanors in your lifetime. The petition is filed in the court where the conviction occurred. A single DWI offense may be expunged after 10 years if you have no other alcohol-related driving offenses. Expungement seals the record from public view but does not destroy it; law enforcement and courts can still access expunged records.
How do I obtain a public defender in Kansas City?
If you cannot afford a private attorney, you may request appointment of the Missouri State Public Defender at your initial appearance or arraignment. The court will require you to complete a financial affidavit detailing your income, assets, and expenses. Eligibility is determined based on state financial guidelines, generally set at 150% of the federal poverty level. If you qualify, the Public Defender’s Office is appointed at no cost. If the Public Defender has a conflict of interest (such as representing a co-defendant), the court appoints private counsel from a conflict panel. Some courts may require partial reimbursement of attorney fees if your income exceeds certain thresholds but you still cannot afford private counsel.