Las Vegas Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer

Statutory sexual seduction — commonly called statutory rape — occurs when a person engages in consensual sexual intercourse with a person aged 16 or 17. The penalties depend on the defendant’s age: if the defendant is 21 or older, it is a Category B felony carrying 1 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. If the defendant is 18 to 20 years old, it is a gross misdemeanor carrying up to 364 days in jail and up to $2,000 in fines. Nevada’s Romeo and Juliet provision (NRS 200.364) provides a defense when both parties are close in age: if the age gap is less than 4 years, the conduct is not criminal.

Lewdness with a child under 16 involves willfully committing a lewd or lascivious act on a child’s body or forcing a child to commit such an act on the perpetrator. For a first offense, this is a Category A felony carrying life with the possibility of parole after 10 years. For a subsequent offense, the sentence is life without the possibility of parole.

Open or gross lewdness covers indecent sexual acts committed in public or where others can observe. A first offense is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail). Subsequent offenses escalate to a Category D felony (1–4 years in prison, up to $5,000 fine). Visit our lewd conduct defense page for detailed information.

Indecent exposure involves intentionally exposing genitalia in a public place or where others are present who may be offended. A first offense is a gross misdemeanor. Subsequent offenses are a Category D felony. If the exposure occurs in the presence of a child under 18, the charge escalates to a Category D felony regardless of prior history. Visit our indecent exposure defense page for more details.

Nevada law criminalizes the production, distribution, and possession of sexual images involving minors. Production or distribution of child pornography is a Category A felony carrying life with the possibility of parole after 5 years. Possession of child pornography is a Category B felony carrying 1 to 6 years in prison for a first offense. Federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 2252 may also apply, carrying mandatory minimums of 5 to 15 years.

Sex crime accusations can arise from custody disputes, relationship breakdowns, revenge motives, or misunderstandings. A thorough investigation into the circumstances and the accuser’s potential motives can expose fabricated claims.

The prosecution must prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If there is no physical evidence, no corroborating witnesses, and inconsistencies in the accuser’s statements, the case may not survive a motion to dismiss.

If police obtained evidence through an illegal search (without a valid warrant or probable cause), violated your Miranda rights during interrogation, or used coercive interview techniques, your attorney can file motions to suppress that evidence.

DNA evidence, rape kit results, and digital forensics are not infallible. Chain of custody errors, contamination, or flawed analysis can undermine the prosecution’s case.

Eyewitness misidentification is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in sex crime cases. Poor lighting, alcohol, stress, and cross-racial identification errors all contribute to unreliable identifications.

If the defendant and alleged victim are close in age (within 4 years), Nevada’s Romeo and Juliet provision (NRS 200.364) may apply as a complete defense to statutory seduction charges.

Yes. Nevada uses the term “sexual assault” (NRS 200.366) rather than “rape.” The crime is defined as subjecting another person to sexual penetration against their will, or when the victim cannot consent due to age, mental incapacity, or physical helplessness. It is always a Category A felony.

Sexual assault is a Category A felony. If the victim is 16 or older and no substantial bodily harm occurred, the sentence is life with the possibility of parole after 10 years. If substantial bodily harm occurred, the sentence is life without parole. If the victim is 14 or 15, parole eligibility begins after 25 years. If the victim is under 14, parole eligibility begins after 35 years.

Yes, for most sex crime convictions. Nevada uses a three-tier system: Tier I (15 years, not publicly listed), Tier II (25 years, publicly listed), and Tier III (lifetime, publicly listed). The tier depends on the severity of the offense. Failure to register is a separate felony.

Technically, yes — Nevada does not require physical evidence to bring sex crime charges. However, cases built solely on uncorroborated testimony are much harder for prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Inconsistencies in the accuser’s statements, lack of physical evidence, and absence of corroborating witnesses can all be used by your defense attorney to challenge the case.

Nevada’s Romeo and Juliet provision (NRS 200.364) provides a defense to statutory seduction charges when both parties are close in age. If the age gap between the defendant and the alleged victim is less than 4 years, the conduct is not criminal. For example, a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old are within the protected range.

Yes, severely. Most sex offenses qualify as crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT) or aggravated felonies under federal immigration law. Aggravated felonies trigger mandatory deportation with virtually no relief available. A defense attorney with immigration knowledge is essential for non-citizen defendants.

Most sex crime convictions cannot be sealed in Nevada. Sexual assault, lewdness with a child, and any offense requiring Tier III registration are permanently on your record. Lesser offenses like first-offense indecent exposure may be sealable after the standard waiting period. If charges are dismissed or you are acquitted, the arrest record can be sealed immediately.

Do not contact the accuser. Do not discuss the situation with anyone except a lawyer. Contact a sex crimes defense attorney immediately. An experienced attorney can investigate the circumstances, gather exculpatory evidence, and begin building a defense before charges are even filed.

Legal fees vary based on the complexity of the case, the charge level, and whether the case goes to trial. De Castroverde Law Group offers free initial consultations so you can understand your options before committing to anything. We are transparent about fees and work with clients to find manageable payment arrangements.