Penalties Associated with Concealing an Escaped Prisoner

NRS 212.130 – Overview of the Penalties Associated with Concealing an Escaped Prisoner in Las Vegas

If you are convicted of concealing a prisoner (referred to as an escapee in this context), you could be subjected to harsh penalties by the Nevada state government. The criminal justice system takes these types of cases seriously since they want to ensure members of the public do not feel emboldened to conceal or aid escaped convicts. If you were charged with providing assistance or concealing the whereabouts of an escaped prisoner, contact our law firm today to schedule a free, confidential case review.

Statutory Prohibition Governing the Concealing of an Escaped Prisoner

According to NRS 212.130, an escaped prisoner is a person, who hides and is possibly helped to avoid rearrests. The law further states that a person who conceals an escaped prisoner risking facing chargers similar to those that the inmate had earlier been convicted of. The penalty for the crime depends on the prisoner, who was incarcerated for a felony, misdemeanor, or gross misdemeanor.

1.Felony:

Nevada laws define felony as any severe offense that is punishable by a prison term of more than one year.

• Pursuant to NRS 193.130, a person who conceals an inmate who was arrested for a felony commits a category C felony.
• That person risks a prison term of between one to five years. The court also states that a person can receive a fine of up to $10,000.
• Misdemeanor
• Misdemeanor, according to Nevada laws, refers to a minor offense. A person who conceals an inmate charged with misdemeanor also commits a misdemeanor.
• The person risks being imprisoned for up to six months or a fine of up to $1,000.
• Gross misdemeanor

Gross misdemeanor refers to a crime that is more serious than a misdemeanor but still being treated as a minor offense. This entails hiding or providing assistance to an escaped prisoner, who had been convicted for a gross criminal offense. This crime puts the person aiding an escaped prisoner to legal consequences that are similar to the charges of gross misdemeanor placed on the escaped prisoner. This person is likely to be jailed in court for almost one year or receive a fine amounting to approximately $2000.

• Pursuant to NRS 193.140, harboring an inmate who was initially charged with a gross misdemeanor also attracts the same charges of a misdemeanor.
• The individual risks 364 days jail term or up to $2,000 in fines.

Definition of Custody Under Nevada Law

According to NRS 209.041, custody is the level of security to movement imposed on a suspect or offender by the classification committee. It is also considered a type of confinement or incarceration for a suspect and this person is kept in confinement until he or she is charged in court and determined guilty or innocent.

Possible Defenses for Concealing Escaping Prisoners’ Accusations

Nevada laws offer every suspect a right to legal representation when facing any charges. The suspects must understand the legal options they possess when facing severe crimes, such as concealing escaping inmates. The defenses include the following:

1. A suspect can argue that they are mistaken identities in the case.
2. The prisoner held them at ransom, and thus, they had to comply.