After getting arrested on charges of violent crimes, you may think your life is over. However, it is important to keep in mind that an arrest is not yet a conviction. You may still have defenses available to you that can prove your innocence or help reduce the charges you’re facing.
Violent crime charges are very serious in Nevada. These offenses include various actions typically committed against another person with the threat, attempt, or act of violence or injury. A Las Vegas violent crimes lawyer from De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers can investigate your case, then advocate for your rights throughout the criminal defense process so that you may be able to avoid a conviction. We offer a free case review to start your journey.
Our Nevada Criminal Defense Lawyers Handle Many Violent Crime Charge Cases
According to the Nevada Department of Public Safety, violent crimes generally fall within four categories: murder, aggravated assault, rape, and robbery. However, violent crime charges can be more specific to detail the nature of the alleged offense. In Clark County, violent crime cases decreased by 13.21 percent from 2020 to 2021 and have been steadily decreasing for the past four years.
At De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers, we keep track of violent crime trends to better understand our community and our potential clients. A Las Vegas criminal defense attorney from our team is ready to investigate your case and determine where holes in the prosecution’s case against you might lie. Our firm can defend you against various violent crime charges, including:
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault and rape
- Assault
- Battery
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Gang-related crimes
- Robbery
- Burglary
Each of these offenses may have varying penalty ranges depending on the facts of the arrest and any outside circumstances. It is important to speak with a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney shortly after an arrest for a violent crime to ensure that you receive a proper defense.
If you are interested in getting more information about your particular case and what you may be up against, do not hesitate to enlist powerful and aggressive representation of our team.
Nevada Criminal Penalties Vary by the Severity of the Violent Crime
As in most states, Nevada classifies crimes between felony and misdemeanor offenses. Felonies are always considered to be the more serious offenses as they come with increased prison time, enhanced fines, and an impact on your criminal record for the rest of your life. Felonies are classified by Category A through Category E.
Most violent crimes are felony offenses, and many reach the most severe range of Category A crimes in Nevada. Defendants may face severe penalties ranging from time in state prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in some extreme cases.
Penalties for Felony-Level Violent Crimes
The following penalties apply to different felony categories:
- Category A felonies: Category A felonies have the most severe penalties and include first- and second-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and assault leading to substantial bodily harm. The penalties for Category A felonies can include the death penalty or life in prison without parole, per NRS § 193.130.
- Category B felonies: Category B felonies include crimes, such as assault with a deadly weapon or reckless driving leading to serious bodily harm. Category B felonies can lead to penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
- Category C felonies: Category C felonies can include attempted Category B felonies and involve prison sentences of up to five years along with fines of up to $10,000.
- Category D felonies: Category D felonies include involuntary manslaughter and manslaughter, and the penalties can extend up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
- Category E felonies: Category E felonies include the solicitation of prostitution involving a child and can include a prison sentence of up to four years. However, for Category E felonies, Nevada law requires that a court suspend the sentence and impose probation or one year in jail, depending on the circumstances.
Penalties for lesser violent crimes, such as misdemeanors, can involve punishments such as a jail sentence for up to 364 days and a $2,000 fine.
Other Ways Violent Crime Penalties May Affect Your Life
Even if you have been arrested for a relatively minor offense that has only a misdemeanor charge associated with it, it is important to defend against a conviction as much as you can. If you are convicted of a crime later in life, a penalty may be heightened due to a prior misdemeanor conviction.
A felony conviction can also haunt you for years to come and may impact your ability to rent a house, gain custody of your children, and find a job. Convicted felons are also stripped of certain rights, such as the right to vote or own a handgun. Should you decide to hire a Nevada violent criminal defense lawyer from De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers, we will be transparent about the penalties you face and work toward finding evidence to defend your case.
Possible Defenses for Your Violent Crime Charges Case in Las Vegas, Nevada
How a violent crime defense attorney in Las Vegas might defend your case will depend on the alleged crime you’re accused of and the circumstances surrounding the crime, your arrest, and criminal processing. However, general defenses for violent crimes cases include:
- Self-defense: Our lawyers may assert that you were acting in self-defense and did not initially start a violent confrontation. Case evidence may support this, such as video footage that captured the event, eyewitness testimony, and forensic evidence showcasing that both parties inflicted equal amounts of pain on one another.
- Lack of intent: The prosecutor has the burden of proof in establishing that you intended to inflict violence against the victim. Our defense strategy for your case may involve contesting allegations that you had violent intentions at the start of the confrontation. For example, if you were intoxicated and got into a fistfight with another bar patron, we may argue that you were not of sound mind and may have confused yourself into believing the patron attacked you.
- Misunderstanding: In some cases, law enforcement might interpret a present injury as proof of a violent crime when the injury might be unrelated to the situation. In other cases, law enforcement might arrest the wrong individual based on a vague description while the actual culprit is still roaming the streets.
Our Las Vegas criminal defense attorney and team will use resources to investigate your case and collect evidence to support your defense. We may contact witnesses to provide testimony for your case and request evidence from parties who may have records of the alleged crime.
De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers | Las Vegas, Nevada Criminal Defense Attorneys
If you have been charged with a criminal, violent crime, do not hesitate to call our team at De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Lawyers. Our Nevada violent crime defense lawyers have assisted our clients with their felony charges for violent crimes.
We will assist you throughout the court proceedings and will aggressively defend you against a criminal conviction. Contact our Las Vegas office today for your initial free consultation.