David Bell, Criminal Defense Attorney

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David Bell, Criminal Defense Attorney David Bell is a Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Kansas City | Voted Best Lawyer in KC 2023

10/16/2026

Should you stay silent when police want to question you? I don't think the answer is always that simple.

I've seen attorneys tell people to say absolutely nothing to police. But here's the thing: sometimes your side of the story could make the difference between being charged with a crime and avoiding charges altogether.

My advice? Be respectful, ask for an attorney, and figure out whether speaking with police is actually in your best interest.

10/14/2026

What happens when addiction begins to take away the things that matter most?

For Amanda Riley, the turning point came when she realized how deeply her struggles were affecting her children and her ability to be present in their lives.

On this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with Amanda Riley, a Reentry Career Coach at Journey to New Life, Inc., to discuss her battle with addiction, the difficult decisions she faced, and the role personal accountability played in changing her life.

Hear Amanda's story and listen to the full episode.

📺 : https://youtu.be/My82KtEDYNo

🎧 : https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2ybwh-1b75509

10/11/2026

What happens when someone leaves prison with nothing to start over?

No ID. No money. No transportation. No job. Sometimes, no family support.

I sat down with Amanda Riley, a Reentry Career Coach at Journey to New Life, Inc., to discuss the realities of life after incarceration, the importance of personal accountability, and the challenges people face when trying to rebuild their lives.

Amanda brings a powerful perspective shaped by her own experiences and the work she does helping others navigate reentry.

Listen to our full conversation on Lens of a Lawyer:

📺: https://youtu.be/My82KtEDYNo

🎧: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2ybwh-1b75509

10/06/2026

Cash bail remains one of the most debated parts of the pretrial justice system, especially when someone’s ability to pay can determine whether they remain in jail before ever being convicted.

In this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, Dr. Marijana Kotlaja and I discuss the broader effects of pretrial detention, including how incarceration can impact employment, housing, families, and communities.

Watch on YouTube or listen to the podcast now:

YouTube
https://youtu.be/d7YrOMg2DnM?si=WZbxZNKQR1l6-X9R

Podcast
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-v6wcr-1b58f29

10/04/2026

Consent and assent are not the same thing.

Someone may appear willing, but true consent requires the ability to understand what is happening, recognize the potential consequences, and make that decision knowingly.

That distinction becomes especially important when alcohol, impairment, or confusion are involved. Body language alone does not automatically equal consent.

The law sets the floor for human behavior. It tells us the minimum standard we cannot fall below, but it should never be the highest standard we aim for.

That is worth remembering in conversations like the one surrounding the Cornell investigation, and in the way we teach young people to understand consent in the first place.

What does it really mean to take accountability for your life?I sat down with Amanda Riley, Reentry Career Coach at Jour...
10/02/2026

What does it really mean to take accountability for your life?

I sat down with Amanda Riley, Reentry Career Coach at Journey to New Life, Inc., for a candid conversation about radical accountability, re-entry, and the choices that can completely change the direction of a life.

Amanda shares how choosing prison over probation became a turning point in her story, and how that experience now shapes the work she does helping others rebuild after incarceration.

Listen to the full episode now:

📺: https://youtube.com/watch?v=My82KtEDYNo&feature=youtu.be

🎧: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2ybwh-1b75509

What if the goal of conflict wasn’t simply to win, but to actually solve the problem?I sat down with Dr. Melanie Worsley...
09/25/2026

What if the goal of conflict wasn’t simply to win, but to actually solve the problem?

I sat down with Dr. Melanie Worsley, Associate Provost and Professor of Criminal Justice at Washburn University, to discuss how mediation and dispute resolution can create better outcomes in the legal system, law enforcement, and everyday life.

We talk about de-escalation, restitution over retaliation, and how moving beyond win-or-lose thinking can lead to solutions that actually last.

Listen to the full episode here:

🎧: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-pbr5b-1b69942
📺: https://youtu.be/yMOJqJ10TDE

09/25/2026

What happens when one side risks everything, and the other risks almost nothing?

In a criminal trial, a defendant can lose time, money, reputation, and years of their life. Even if they win, those costs don’t simply disappear.

And a “not guilty” verdict doesn’t mean the court declared them innocent. It means the government failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

So if there’s little consequence for bringing a case to trial that never should have gone that far, what keeps the system accountable?

09/21/2026

Drake didn't sue Kendrick Lamar.

That's the detail most people miss.

The lawsuit was actually filed against the record label, and the court's ruling centered on a much bigger question: when does artistic expression become defamation?

In this case, the court found the lyrics were part of a rap battle and not meant to be taken as literal statements of fact. A decision that could have implications far beyond music.

09/18/2026

What if the criminal court system treated bail more like the IRS treats taxes?

A $75,000 bond can mean everything to one person and almost nothing to another. If the purpose of bail is to make sure someone returns to court, should the amount reflect their income or assets?

Same charge. Same bond. Completely different consequences.

Would an income-based bail system be fairer?

Let us know what you think below.

Address

WYRSCH HOBBS MIRAKIAN, One Kansas City Place 1200 Main Street Suite 2110
Kansas City, MO
64105

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+18164378199

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