Nevada Revised Statutes § 205.240 – petit larceny. This is defined as intentionally stealing someone else’s property when the value of the property is less than $1,200.00.
A conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by
- up to 6-months in jail,
- fines of up to $1000.00, and
- restitution for any losses that the victim suffers.
But many prosecutors will agree to dismiss a charge of petty theft if you:
- pay the fine and restitution and
- complete Petit Larceny School.
Also called petty larceny or petty theft, petit larceny comprises:
- shoplifting,
- stealing items from hotel rooms, and/or
- stealing pets
If the value of the stolen property is $1,200.00 or greater, then the more serious crime of grand larceny can be charged.
The language of NRS 205.240 states that:
1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 205.220, 205.226, 205.228, 475.105 and 501.3765, a person commits petit larceny if the person:
(a) Intentionally steals, takes and carries away, leads away or drives away:
(1) Personal goods or property, with a value of less than $1,200, owned by another person;
(2) Bedding, furniture or other property, with a value of less than $1,200, which the person, as a lodger, is to use in or with his or her lodging and which is owned by another person; or
(3) Real property, with a value of less than $1,200, that the person has converted into personal property by severing it from real property owned by another person.
(b) Intentionally steals, takes and carries away, leads away, drives away or entices away one or more domesticated animals or domesticated birds, with an aggregate value of less than $1,200, owned by another person.
2. Unless a greater penalty is provided pursuant to NRS 205.267, a person who commits petit larceny is guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition to any other penalty, the court shall order the person to pay restitution.
In this article, our Las Vegas petty larceny lawyers discuss:
- 1. What is petit larceny in Las Vegas, Nevada?
- 2. Can I go to jail?
- 3. Can the case get dismissed?
- 4. How do I fight the charges?
- 5. When can I seal the case?
- 6. Can I get deported?
- 7. Other theft offenses
1. What is petit larceny in Las Vegas, Nevada?
The legal definition of petty larceny is when someone intentionally steals another person’s property without the owner’s consent when the value of the property is less than $1,200. Petty theft cases typically stem from the following situations:
- shoplifting, such as from Walmart;
- stealing items from a motel or hotel room where the suspect stayed, or
- taking someone else’s domesticated animals, such as a dog, cat or bird1
Courts might rely on expert testimony and/or market research to determine a stolen item’s worth. Ultimately, courts attribute the highest value to the stolen property by any reasonable standard.2
Petty larceny in Nevada is stealing less than $1,200 worth of goods.
1.1. Petit larceny versus other larceny crimes
| Nevada theft offense | Difference between petty larceny |
|---|---|
| Grand larceny | Unlike petty larceny, grand theft is stealing goods valued at $1,200 or more. Grand larceny is always a felony carrying a state prison sentence.3 |
| Larceny from a person (pick-pocketing) | Larceny from a person is stealing goods from another’s person body without using force or threats. It is usually done without the knowledge of the theft victim. Pick-pocketing is always a felony.4 By contrast, petty larceny is stealing goods that are not on someone’s person. |
| Burglary | Burglary is entering any building or structure with the intent to commit larceny (or certain other crimes) inside. Burglary is always a felony.5 By contrast, petty larceny may occur outside. And people may be convicted of petty larceny even if they had no intention to steal before they went inside. |
| Grand larceny of a firearm | Stealing a gun is always a felony in Nevada. It does not matter if the gun is valued at less than $1,200.6 |
2. Can I go to jail?
As a misdemeanor, petty larceny carries the following punishment:
- up to $1,000 in fines, and/or
- up to 6 months in jail7
In addition, the court may order that the defendant pay restitution to the victim. The amount of restitution depends on the value of the stolen items.8
3. Can the case get dismissed?
Possibly, especially if it is the defendant’s first offense. The typical scenario is for the defendant to enter a “submittal” to petty larceny. This means that the prosecutor will dismiss the charge as long as the defendant does the following:
- pay a fine,
- pay restitution, and
- complete “Petit Larceny School”, an educational course about shoplifting consequences and community resources
But if the defendant fails to complete these terms, the judge will convict the defendant of petty larceny and possibly impose jail.
In Las Vegas Municipal Court, the Petit Larceny Program (PLP) consists of either
- four two-hour group counseling sessions or
- one eight-hour class.
This course costs $225.
4. How do I fight the charges?
There are various arguments a criminal defense attorney may use in fighting a Nevada petty larceny charge. Which ones will prove most effective depend on the facts of the particular case. Three of the most common defense strategies are:
- There was no taking,
- There was no intent to steal,
- The property belonged to the defendant.
No matter the defense strategy, prosecutors have the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors typically rely on surveillance footage and eyewitnesses as evidence. But as long as the defense attorney can show that the state’s case is too dubious to sustain a conviction, the charge may be dropped.
4.1. There was no taking
Merely touching someone else’s property is not the same as taking it. Criminal defense attorney Michael Becker gives an example of this distinction:
Example: Friends Jane and Jill go to Walgreens, where Jill dares Jane to steal a lipstick. Jane runs her hand over one of the lipsticks but quickly loses her nerve and takes her hand away. Meanwhile, a cashier overhears the exchange and alerts Las Vegas Metro that Jane has stolen a lipstick.
If the police cite Jane for petty larceny, the charge should be dismissed because Jane did not steal anything. Touching the lipstick like any patron might should not amount to a taking, even if she was considering taking possession of the property for a short period of time.
Had Jane in the above example put the lipstick in her pocket and made it past the register before losing her nerve, then the D.A. might be able to convict her of petty larceny. In this scenario, Jane technically took the lipstick with the intent to steal it. The fact she had second thoughts does not negate her prior action of hiding the lipstick in her pocket with the intent to keep it.
4.2. There was no intent to steal
Petty larceny is a specific intent crime. Therefore, defendants may not be convicted of it unless they took an item with the intent to steal it. Criminal defense attorney Michael Becker gives an example:
Example: Jared goes into CVS to buy a soda. While in the store, he gets a phone call. Preoccupied with the phone call, he walks out of the store forgetting to pay. Since Jared did not mean to steal, he committed no crime.
The challenge in cases like the above example is convincing the judge that the defendant merely forgot to pay. But as long as the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant intended to steal, the charge should be dropped.
4.3. The property belonged to the defendant
Sometimes defendants get falsely accused of stealing property if they have ownership of the property, to begin with. Criminal defense attorney Neil Shouse provides an illustration of how this can happen:
Example: Andy and Bill broke up but share custody of a cat. One day Bill drives to Andy’s and takes the cat from the front porch in order to drive the cat to the vet.
Still angry over the breakup, Andy calls the police and reports that Bill stole the cat. If Bill gets arrested for petty larceny, the charge should be dismissed once he can show that he is a co-owner of the property.
In short, defendants cannot be convicted of petty larceny if they owned the allegedly stolen property.
Violating NRS 205.240 is a misdemeanor in Nevada carrying potential jail and/or one thousand dollars in fines.
5. When can I seal the case?
Petty larceny convictions may be sealed from the defendant’s criminal record one (1) year after the case closes.9 But if the case gets dismissed with no conviction, then the defendant may pursue a record seal right away.10
It is always recommended that people with any crime of theft on their criminal record pursue a record seal. It looks very bad to prospective employers and carries a social stigma.
Learn how to seal Nevada criminal records.
6. Can I get deported?
Probably not as long as the immigrant has only one (1) petty larceny conviction. Petty larceny is technically a crime involving moral turpitude, which is usually deportable. But petty larceny falls under immigration law’s “petty offense” exception because its maximum possible jail time is only six (6) months.11
However, immigration law is constantly changing and is very confusing. Any alien who has been charged with petty larceny is strongly advised to consult with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to try to get the charge dismissed.
7. Other Nevada theft crimes
| Nevada theft offense | Definition |
|---|---|
| Robbery | Robbery is taking another’s personal property by force or threats. An example is a hold-up.12 |
| Possession of stolen property | It is unlawful to possess property that the possessor knows is stolen.13 |
| Possession of lost property | People may not knowingly keep lost property unless they take reasonable measures to find the owner.14 |
| Embezzlement | Embezzlement is stealing property that the person initially possessed legally. An example is not returning a rented car on time.15 |
| Bait-purse theft | Lost purses or wallets in a public place may be planted by local police looking for thieves.16 |
For additional help…
For years our Las Vegas DUI/criminal defense lawyers have succeeded in negotiating petit larceny/petty theft charges down to full dismissals or charge reductions. You are welcome to call our criminal law firm for legal advice and to discuss how our theft attorneys can help put this case in the past and keep your criminal record clean.
Arrested in Los Angeles? Read our article about Penal Code 484 PC.
Arrested in Denver? Read our article about Colorado petty larceny laws and Colorado misdemeanor theft laws.
Legal References
- Nevada Revised Statute code section 205.240.
- NRS 205.0834.
- NRS 205.220.
- NRS 205.270.
- NRS 205.060; Puglisi v. State, (1986) 102 Nev. 491, 728 P.2d 435 (“Petit larceny is not a lesser included offense in a burglary charge.”)
- NRS 205.226.
- Note that petty larceny may be a municipal crime in addition to a state crime. Nevada Attorney General Opinion 64 (June 16, 1959) (“A city may legally enact an ordinance making the issuance of checks without sufficient funds and petit larceny municipal offenses if they are committed within the city, even though such acts are also offenses under state law.”); see, for example, Reno Municipal Code § 8.10.040.
- NRS 205.240; see, for example, Carpenter v. State, (2013) Nev. Unpub. LEXIS 1322, 2013 WL 5323385 (“Restitution is a sentencing determination that this court will generally not disturb unless it rests upon impalpable or highly suspect evidence. Martinez v. State, 115 Nev. 9, 12-13, 974 P.2d 133, 135 (1999). A district court must rely on reliable and accurate information in calculating a restitution award. Id. at 13, 974 P.2d 135. “An owner of property may testify to its value, at least so long as the owner has personal knowledge, or the ability to provide expert proof, of value.” Stephans v. State, 262 P.3d 727, 731 (Nev. 2011)“).
- NRS 179.245.
- NRS 179.255.
- INA § 212(a)(2)(A) (II), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A) (II).
- NRS 200.380.
- NRS 200.275.
- NRS 205.0832(d).
- NRS 205.300.
- NRS 205.0832(d).