Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyers for Grand Larceny Cases
Nevada Grand Larceny Laws
Under NRS 205.220, a person commits Grand Larceny in Las Vegas (and throughout the state of Nevada) if he/she:
- Uses a card or other device to withdraw or take money (to which he/she is not entitled) from a financial institution, or
- Intentionally steals, takes or carries away another person's property valued at more than $250.00
Grand Larceny Versus Petit Larceny Under Nevada Law
Nevada larceny law determines the seriousness of the crime based on the fair market value of the property taken. If the value is $250 or higher, the crime is Grand Larceny (a felony) and the defendant faces incarceration in Nevada State Prison for a period of years. If the property is worth less than $250 in value, the person can only be charged with Petit Larceny--a misdemeanor punishable by only up to six months in county jail. (See NRS 205.240)
The value of the property in a Nevada larceny case "shall be deemed to be the highest value attributable to the property by any reasonable standard." (See NRS 205.251) Often times the court determines this through expert or opinion testimony by someone familiar with valuation of the type of property at issue.
To Convict Someone of a Nevada Larceny, the State Must Show a Certain State of Mind
For someone to be guilty of larceny in Las Vegas and Nevada, the prosecutor must prove that he had what is called a "criminal intent." In a larceny case, this means that at the time of taking the property, the perpetrator intended permanently to deprive the owner of it. In other words, he did not plan to give it back to the rightful owner. He was not simply borrowing it or using it temporarily.
Penalties for Larceny in Las Vegas and Nevada
The penalty and punishment for a Nevada larceny conviction varies depending on the value of the stolen property. If the value is less than $250, the crime is misdemeanor Petit Larceny and the penalty cannot exceed six months of jail. If the value is between $250 and $2500, the crime is Grand Larceny, a Class C felony with punishment of 1 to 5 years Nevada State Prison-plus a fine of up to $10,000. If the value is $2500 or higher, this triggers a Class C felony and the prison term could be 1 to 10 years plus the fine of up to $10,000.
Immigrants or non-citizens who are convicted of grand larceny in Nevada may be deportable, depending on the case. So it's very important aliens charged with grand larceny hire a criminal defense attorney to try to plead down the case to non-removable charges. To learn more about the criminal defense of immigrants in Nevada, read our short article here.
Las Vegas Larceny Defense Lawyers
As you can see, a Las Vegas Nevada larceny conviction can have serious repercussions, including jail time, expensive fines and the stigma of a permanent criminal record. But it may be possible to avoid these consequences, and to avoid a conviction altogether.
If you find yourself facing a Nevada larceny charge, we urge you to speak with one of our Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyers. We can discuss with you exactly what happened, assess the strength of the prosecution's case, and devise the best strategy to fight the charges on your behalf.
