CRIMINAL LAW

Criminal Law

Police car and cop
At Tanksley & Smith, LLC, we represent individuals who have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors.

In reality, an experienced defense attorney can be compared to an investigator. As your defense attorney, we will spend a great deal of time sifting through all the evidence that relates to your charge(s). In addition, we will speak with any individuals who witnessed the incident(s) for which you are charged. Furthermore, we may call expert witnesses and gather additional evidence as we build your defense case.

As your defense attorneys, we will help you decide the best way to proceed with your case. If a plea deal is possible, we will negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf. If you are satisfied with the terms negotiated, we will help you fill out the paperwork to accept the prosecutor’s offer. If you are not satisfied with the plea deal offered, we will begin preparing your defense strategy for the trial.

Criminal issues we defend include, but are not limited to:

  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence
  • Assault and Battery
  • Child Abuse
  • Sex Crimes
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP)
  • Public Intoxication
  • Expungement
  • Theft, Burglary, Robbery, and more


Should you go to trial and the jury does not find in your favor, you may be able to file an appeal. Since criminal cases tend to be extremely complex, having an experienced defense attorney by your side to handle all the specifics is essential. A defense attorney knows the laws and how to interpret the laws and then apply them to your case.


If you have been charged with a crime(s) in or near Southeast Missouri and you need an experienced defense attorney, contact Tanksley & Smith, LLC, today. Schedule an initial consultation at our office, which is located at 1129 East Jackson Boulevard in Jackson, Missouri, by calling (573) 204-3932.


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