A first-time DUI in Henderson, Nevada is usually prosecuted as a misdemeanor, presuming no one was seriously hurt or killed. In addition to a fine of up to $1,000, vehicle impoundment, license revocation, DUI school or substance abuse treatment, and other Nevada DUI penalties, you will wind up spending a minimum of 48 hours in the Clark …
It is not unheard of for criminal defendants to refuse to enter a plea when asked by a judge to do so. A recent example is the Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who refused to enter a plea in federal court to criminal charges that he that he led an armed standoff against federal agents in …
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Reno, Nevada, you have a right to a “speedy trial” under both the U.S. Constitution and Nevada law. But what you may think of as “speedy” may not be the same as what the law considers it to be for purposes of determining whether your rights have …
Getting together with friends in Las Vegas can be fun. Getting together with friends to commit (or just plan to commit) a crime in Las Vegas can be a conspiracy, a serious offense that can lead to significant jail time. Agreement to Commit a Crime is a Crime Criminal conspiracy in Las Vegas is an …
People in Reno, like people everywhere else in the world, can make bad choices when they’re drunk. Sometimes, that choice (whether or not it seemed like a choice at the time) includes committing a criminal offense, such as battery arising from a fight. But is intoxication a defense to battery or other criminal charges in …
All criminal defendants in Clark County, Nevada have a constitutional right to a fair trial. When prosecutors violate legal and ethical rules in pursuit of a guilty verdict, that right is denied and can potentially be the basis for overturning a conviction. As the U.S. Supreme Court has said, a prosecutor’s interest “in a criminal …
Except for the most violent crimes, if you committed a crime in Reno, Nevada a long time ago, you may be in the clear. Most criminal offenses in Nevada have statutes of limitations. Such statutes set forth the time within which prosecutors must file charges for a criminal offense. If a statute of limitations has …
You’ve been charged with a Nevada misdemeanor in Reno. You believe, correctly, that misdemeanors are generally less serious offenses than felonies. But if you believe that because it’s “just” a misdemeanor you don’t face the possibility of jail time, you are sadly mistaken. While an experienced Reno, Nevada criminal defense attorney usually can help you avoid …
If you are pulled over in North Las Vegas, Nevada and the officer suspects that you may be intoxicated, you will likely be asked to take a series of physical tests as the officer evaluates your condition. Field sobriety tests (FSTs), as they are known, are entirely subjective in that the determination as to whether you …
Palm Springs, California is home to a large population of retirees and seniors. Crimes against Palm Springs seniors are treated with particular harshness under California law – and by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office. Special provisions in California’s criminal law are focused on the physical, financial, and emotional harm done to seniors. A Palm …
If you provide someone in Las Vegas with an illegal drug, whether it be heroin, meth, or a prescription painkiller that’s not theirs and they die as a result, you could wind up in prison for murder. NRS § 453.333 provides that: If the death of a person is proximately caused by a controlled substance …
Most arrests and convictions for robbery in Washoe County are for violations of Nevada’s robbery statute. However, in certain circumstances, robbery can be a federal criminal offense that can result in time spent in federal prison. As set forth in 18 U.S.C. §§ 2111-2119, there are nine ways you can be charged with a federal …
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, San Bernardino, and elsewhere, there has been an uptick in crimes against Muslim-Americans, including vandalism of mosques. If you vandalize or damage a mosque in Las Vegas or disrupt worship being conducted within a mosque, you can face serious criminal penalties. NRS 206.125 NRS 206.125 makes …
According to the White House, Nevada’s drug overdose rate far exceeds the national average and is the fourth highest in the nation. Many people in Las Vegas who die from a drug overdose could have survived if they had received medical attention immediately. That’s why Nevada passed a new law in 2015 that shields individuals …
If you’ve been arrested and charged with domestic violence in Henderson, Nevada, you may be scared, in shock, or physically hurt. During such times, it’s important to try to think clearly and take some steps that can go a long way towards protecting yourself, your rights, and your future. While the circumstances of your Henderson domestic violence …
When events happen during the course of a Reno, Nevada criminal trial which put that right at risk, or if a jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict, the judge may declare a mistrial. What is a “Mistrial” Just like a “misfire” of a gun is a shot that either didn’t go off as …
We all owe a debt of profound gratitude to our nation’s veterans and their service. However, if someone in Henderson, Nevada dishonors that service by makings misrepresentations about their military honors in order to obtain money or other benefits, they are committing a federal crime and can go to jail. The federal Stolen Valor Act …
There is big money to be made in scrap metal. While selling scrap metal found on the street or in alleys or garbage in Reno may be a good source of cash, stealing scrap metal from homes, businesses, or public property can be a good source of Nevada criminal charges. Stealing, taking, and carrying away …
If you are at your home in Las Vegas and the police show up with a search warrant, you need to know how to respond in a way that protects your rights and does not make the situation worse. As a preliminary matter, if you have been served with a search warrant, or you know …
If you live in Nevada and want to let your minor (under 18) child hold or use a gun, rifle, or another firearm, you could face criminal charges. NRS 202.300 makes it illegal for anyone in Nevada under the age of 18 to handle or possess any firearm of any kind for hunting, target practice, …
“I was set up!” is a cry that has been said by many of those who’ve been arrested in a sting or undercover operation conducted by police. If you find yourself saying that after selling drugs in Las Vegas to an undercover police officer, you may be wondering if you can claim “entrapment” as a …
If you are facing criminal charges, you want your ordeal to be over with as quickly as possible. But do not let your desire for a quick resolution make you rush into entering a guilty plea. The consequences of pleading guilty to a crime in Nevada can last a lifetime. A Nevada plea bargain is …
The Juvenile Court handles cases involving minors who have been charged with a crime. Children who are charged with offenses that would be crimes if they were adults are classified as delinquents. Status offenders are those children who commit acts that are unlawful because of their age, such as truancy, incorrigibility, and runaway. Status offenders …
If you have been found guilty of a Nevada crime, a punishment will be imposed upon you by a judge. The punishment for a criminal conviction is called a sentence. The court hearing where the judge gives you your sentence is called the Nevada sentence hearing. Nevada Revised Statutes 176.015 states that after a criminal …
If you are convicted of first-degree murder in Nevada, you face the possibility of the death penalty. Nevada is one of 31 states (as of 2015) that allow the imposition of capital punishment, and uses lethal injection as its sole method of execution. Death Sentences Are More Likely to be Imposed Than Carried Out The …
