Kansas City Criminal Defense Attorneys

Kansas, Missouri and Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers

Complete Representation: Pre-Trial Negotiations ● Bench Trials ● Jury Trials

What's a year of your life worth... or a decade? Even if there is no choice but to work out the best plea possible, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney. Having a good trial attorney on your side gives your defense credibility even when your case is a case where you may need to work out the best plea bargain you can. An experienced attorney who understands the law, cares about your case and works hard can literally save you years in prison.

"If you have ever met a man locked away for things he didn't do, then you know.  That is a tragedy. I never want to see that happen to anyone.

I certainly don't want that to happen to a client of mine."

                                                         - Trey Pettlon

Past Verdicts: Experience and Hard Work Make the Difference!

Trey Pettlon hasn't just tried a lot of jury trials; he's won a lot of jury trials. He has represented clients in jury trials who were facing life in prison, felony convictions and other serious consequences for crimes they did not commit. Juries have agreed.

Trey has won "not guilty" jury verdicts for clients charged with rape, sodomy charges, multiple aggravated batteries, domestic battery, sexual batteries, attempted murder, felony DUI, and felony thefts. Trey's won numerous trials to juries and judges in cases where clients have not only faced convictions that would cost them their liberty, but also cost them their careers and their reputations. Trey has extensive experience representing clients charged with serious sex crimes, which carry other severe consequences such as sex offender registration and nonexpungeable convictions.

After gaining experience at the Johnson County District Attorney's Office, Ryan Ginie has worked closely with Trey to learn the art of trial advocacy and criminal defense. In August of 2007, Ryan won a "Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Defect" verdict for a client charged with felony criminal threat. This was the first time a criminal defense attorney had won a not-guilty verdict based on a mental defect in Johnson County in years. Ryan has earned a reputation as a lawyer who is concerned for his clients and passionate about their defense. No one will work harder on your case. No one. Contact us today if this is the kind of experience and representation you believe your case demands.

Both Trey and Ryan have represented clients in numerous trials to juries and judges. Trey has represented clients in jury trials in Missouri and Kansas and federal court. In Missouri, he has defended clients in jury trials in Jackson County, Clay County, and Johnson County. Throughout Kansas, he has represented clients in jury trials in Johnson County, Miami County, Shawnee County, Wilson County, Wyandotte County and the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. Ryan has won jury trials in Johnson County, Kansas.  Most of our practice is in and around the Kansas City area, but Trey and Ryan represent clients wherever they are needed.  Trey has traveled from Maine to California to represent clients in important matters.

And because Trey and Ryan have worked as prosecutors and for the defense, they understand the trial tactics and abilities prosecutors will use. They also know what it will take to get the best result. Because so much is at stake for our clients we always carefully research and discuss every possible defense, legal issue and likely outcome of the case, so our clients can make well-informed decisions about whether we should have a trial or minimize the damage with motions or negotiations. After all, it's our client's case and it's our client's rights. If you desire a trial of the case to a jury or a judge, our attorneys are skilled, experienced trial lawyers. If you wish to have the case resolved quickly and discreetly without trial, our attorneys are zealous advocates and skilled negotiators.

A frequent injustice in the criminal justice system is reflected in the sentence imposed on those who are guilty. Despite the constant media attention given to a few cases where defendants are seemingly given light sentences for serious crimes, the truth is that for every one of those cases, there are a hundred where the defendant receives a sentence much harsher than the crime calls for. "Mandatory Minimums" that are frequently imposed in both state and federal courts take discretion away from sentencing judges. As a result, oftentimes defendants receive sentences that do not take into consideration all the circumstances, especially in the case of drug offenders.

Moreover, innocent people are convicted, and innocent people go to prison. It happens. We know for a fact that new DNA evidence has exonerated hundreds of people who were serving time for crimes they didn't commit. In the last five years, 'The Innocence Project' reported that 43 percent of the inmates whose DNA it tested were exonerated. Kansas City Star, A-8, April 7, 2009. The Innocence Project keeps a running total of their numbers. Of course, DNA evidence isn't collected or even available as evidence in the vast majority of cases... so it isn't available to exonerate people in most cases. Many people are charged and convicted on the mere word of a single witness. Felony charges are brought against people in "he said-she said" cases on a daily basis. Many times witnesses are mistaken or even lying.

USA Today recently reported that: "... a USA TODAY investigation found that prosecutors repeatedly have violated that duty in courtrooms across the nation. The abuses have put innocent people in prison, set guilty people free and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in legal fees and sanctions."

"Judges have warned for decades that misconduct by prosecutors threatens the Constitution's promise of a fair trial. Congress in 1997 enacted a law aimed at ending such abuses. Yet USA TODAY documented 210 criminal cases in the years that followed in which judges determined that Justice Department prosecutors - the nation's most elite and powerful law enforcement officials - themselves violated laws or ethics rules." See http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2010-09-22-federal-prosecutors-reform_N.htm.

English jurist William Blackstone once said, it is "better that 10 guilty persons escape than one innocent person suffer."

In fact, unfortunately, false allegations are common. Probably the two areas where false allegations are made most frequently sex crimes and domestic violence. Consequently these allegations can destroy a person's reputation and then have a drastic impact on their liberty and their future. We've seen it over and over firsthand. We've been with the accused and his or her family and friends when the bailiff has come to get us at the end of a long, difficult sex crime jury trial to tell us that the jury is back with a verdict. Thankfully, to this date, juries have never come back with a guilty verdict for our clients in these important cases.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.

You are presumed innocent. The government has the burden to prove that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. These aren't just words if you have an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you are not guilty... or if you have a defense... you couldn't be in better hands. If, on the other hand, the government can prove the case against you and you simply need help − an experienced attorney to answer your questions, minimize your anxiety and minimize the damage you have done to your life − we can help you with that too. We have handled just about every kind of criminal case, felonies and misdemeanors, including:

We will fight for you!

In criminal cases and their successful defense, the beginning is a critical time. When you are a suspect, you need an experienced attorney to get involved quickly... to investigate, to prepare a defense, to answer your questions, and in some cases, to minimize the damage to your life. Whether you are guilty or not, you could not be in better hands than if you are represented by the Law Offices of N. Trey Pettlon. We are not afraid to take your case to trial, and, if you decide to retain us, no one will be better prepared than your attorney. In addition to protecting your rights, we will keep you apprised about the progress in your case and make every effort to minimize your anxiety about the case and your future.

We have a terrific staff designed for that purpose. Our legal assistant, Terri, is experienced, knowledgeable and in the office to help five days a week. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Trey and Ryan can generally be reached seven days a week.

At the Law Office of N. Trey Pettlon, III, we defend clients charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes throughout Kansas City and wherever our clients need us. We have the resources and knowledge to help. If you have been arrested for any crime, contact a criminal defense lawyer. Call the Law Offices of N. Trey Pettlon at (913) 393-2100.

"Freeeeeedom!!!!!" William Wallace, August 1305

Free Initial Consultation ● Credit Cards Accepted

Criminal defense attorneys serving the Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri area, including cities such as Belton, Blue Springs, Bonner Springs, De Soto, Edwardsville, Fairway, Gardner, Gladstone, Grandview, Independence, Kansas City, Leawood, Lenexa, Lee's Summit, Liberty, Louisberg, Merriam, Mission, Mission Woods, North Kansas City, Olathe, Overland Park, Liberty, Lone Jack, Paola, Parkville, Platte City, Raytown, Riverside, Roeland Park, Shawnee, Smithville, Spring Hill, Sugar Creek, Westwood, Westwood Hills and all other surrounding municipalities. We'll go wherever our clients need us!

Johnson County ● Kansas County ● Wyandotte County ● Miami County ● Jackson County ● Clay County ● Platte County