What to Expect if Arrested in Las Vegas

People travel to Las Vegas to have wild adventures, but even Sin City has laws that local residents and tourists must follow. While film and television have painted Las Vegas as a city where anything goes and all your secrets remain, the reality is that tourists can still get arrested for various types of crimes, including:

  • Driving under the influence (DUI)
  • Drug-related crimes, such as purchasing or being in possession of illicit substances
  • Gambling-related crimes, such as fraud and money laundering
  • Sex crimes, such as sexual assault, rape, and prostitution
  • Violent crimes, such as shootings, stabbings, and homicide
  • Grand theft auto
  • Robbery

If you were arrested in Las Vegas for alleged criminal offenses, you may face being convicted on those charges. This article goes into detail about what to expect if you were arrested in Las Vegas, from understanding the basics of the judicial system in Nevada to how a Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer from De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers can help you.

How Soon Can You Get a Lawyer After Getting Arrested in Las Vegas?

You can hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you are arrested—and you have a right to retain a lawyer before speaking to law enforcement. In fact, you should remain silent until you are able to receive legal counsel from your attorney to avoid incriminating yourself during interrogation. 

Once your attorney arrives, they can represent you during police interrogation, petition for your bail, and advocate for your rights in your initial arraignment hearing.

Things You Should and Shouldn’t Say to Police After Being Arrested

If you get arrested while visiting Vegas, you will likely be taken to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) or another local precinct in the area. Law enforcement officers may or may not read your Miranda rights until you enter an official interrogation, so it is important to understand your basic rights and what you should or shouldn’t say until you are able to see your lawyer. 

As you get processed for your arrest:

  • DO say that you would like to speak with your lawyer: Defendants have a right to retain an attorney to defend their case, be it a state-appointed public defender or a private criminal defense attorney that the defendant hires. Once you state that you would like to invoke your right to speak with your lawyer, law enforcement must respect this decision and cannot coerce you into an interrogation.
  • DO say you would like to invoke your right to remain silent: Even if you are waiting for your lawyer to arrive, police may still attempt to have you talk about your case to get any incriminating statements out of you. To protect yourself, you must declare that you would like to invoke your fifth amendment rights to remain silent until your attorney arrives. Simply staying silent may be misconstrued as being uncooperative with law enforcement.
  • DON’T reveal any potential weapons unless they are legally registered: If your criminal charges involve a deadly weapon, such as a gun, refrain from revealing this weapon unless it is legally registered. If you are unsure if your concealed weapon is legal, it is better to omit statements regarding it until your lawyer arrives. Even if you do not own the weapon, being in possession of it can be incriminating.
  • DON’T try to offer an explanation about what happened to law enforcement without an attorney present: The police are very astute at making defendants confused, intimidated, and insecure about their recollection of alleged events. Some officials may use coercive tactics to convince defendants to admit to acts they did not commit. To protect your case, do not attempt to offer excuses about your actions or what happened, as any statement you make can and will be used against you.

How Can a Criminal Defense Lawyer Help Tourists in Las Vegas?

If you decide to work with a Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer from De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers, we can provide several services to build your defense and advocate for you throughout your case. These services may include:

  • Reviewing the nature of your arrest, interrogation, and criminal processing to determine if any of your rights were violated
  • Reviewing evidence brought forward by the prosecution and strategizing counterarguments to defend you from false or doubtful allegations
  • Conducting a separate investigation into your arrest and alleged crimes to retrieve evidence that may support your claims (e.g., witness testimony, documents that support your alibi, and video footage of the alleged crime)
  • Serving as your legal representative during legal hearings
  • Presenting your defense in front of a judge and jury to fight for your innocence
  • Appealing any guilty verdicts you receive and guiding you through the appeals process

Our legal team is also available for questions or concerns you have about your case. Our team representatives can provide further insight on what to expect after being arrested in Las Vegas, such as how long court dates can spread out, options for plea bargains, and potential statements the prosecution might make.

Does a Defendant Have to Attend Legal Hearings if They Live Out of Nevada?

Depending on the severity or type of crime, defendants may allow their attorney to appear in court on their behalf to serve as their representative. However, defendants may still have to attend their initial arraignment to enter their plea for guilty or not guilty, though some courts do offer virtual options. 

Our legal team can go over whether you need to be present during your hearings. If not, we will provide case updates as they come.

What Is the Judicial System Process Like After Being Arrested in Las Vegas?

After being arrested in Las Vegas, you may go through the following legal hearings to reach a verdict for your case. These legal appearances include:

  • Your bail hearing, which determines how much bail you must pay to leave jail
  • The initial arraignment, which is when you plead guilty or not guilty
  • Pretrial conferences, which allow your attorney to review evidence from the prosecution and provide the opportunity to begin negotiating an out-of-court plea bargain deal
  • Preliminary hearings, which you would attend if you are facing felony charges
  • Trial hearings, which is the official hearing where your case will be heard by a judge or jury
  • Sentencing hearing, which is when you learn about how severe your sentence is
  • Appeals process, which you may enter if you have additional evidence to support your case and you would like to overturn wrongful verdicts

Looking for a Criminal Defense Attorney in Las Vegas? Call Our Law Firm Today

If you were arrested while visiting Las Vegas and now face criminal charges, reach out to De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers today for a free case evaluation. Our legal team defends tourists facing potential conviction on various types of criminal charges, from DUIs and drug-related crimes to prostitution. 

Should you decide to have a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney from our team defend your case, we will investigate your arrest and any allegations made against you, then build your case argument to defend your rights and innocence. Call 702-805-2694

today to start your legal journey.