Felony Charges

Felony Charges in Las Vegas, Nevada

Nevada classifies crimes in three ways, as misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felonies.

Some crimes, such as a  first time DUI, is a misdemeanor, but later convictions such as a third DUI or DUI involving death or serious bodily injury, are felonies.

A felony record can negatively impact your future long after you have served your time and paid your debt to society.

No matter the crime, you need an experienced and aggressive Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer on your side if you have been arrested for a felony crime. Contact LV Criminal Defense today if you have been charged with a felony crime in Nevada.

What crimes are felonies in Nevada?

The following list of Las Vegas crimes can result in a felony record if you are convicted:

• Third DUI conviction in seven years;
• Felony DUI;
• DUI causing death or serious bodily harm;
• Certain domestic violence incidences;
• Kidnapping;
• Murder;
• Robbery;
• Arson;
• Certain theft crimes;
• Some drug crimes;
• Certain gun crimes;
• White collar crimes.

How is a Nevada felony different than a misdemeanor?

A felony is different than a misdemeanor in a few ways:

• Felony crimes involve time in prison, while misdemeanor crimes involve jail time or suspended sentences;
• Felony crimes involve prison time of 365 days or more. Misdemeanors are punishable by up to 364 days in a jail;
• Felony crimes are categorized A through E in Nevada, while misdemeanors are either simple or gross.

How are felony offenses punished in Las Vegas? Nevada felony sentencing guidelines

All felonies are categorized by the seriousness of the crime and the resulting penalties. Examples of felony crimes and punishments are below:

• First degree murder (premeditated and with malice aforethought) is a Category A felony in Nevada, with punishment that can include the death penalty, life in prison without the possibility of parole, and life in prison with the possibility of parole after a certain number of years has been completed;
• Robbery is a Category B felony in Nevada that carries anywhere from 1 to 20 years in a Nevada prison as well as fines that are determined based on a number of factors specific to your case;
• Robbery is a Category B felony in Nevada that carries anywhere from 1 to 20 years in a Nevada prison as well as fines that are determined based on a number of factors specific to your case;
• An example of Nevada Category D felony is forgery, which can result in prison time of 1 to 4 years and fines of $5,000; and
• Possession of a controlled substance is a Category E felony that can have you sentenced to 1 to 4 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.

What happens next after an arrest for a felony crime in Nevada?

If you are arrested for a felony that falls into any category, you must appear before a magistrate judge or Justice of the Peace within 3 days. Unlike misdemeanor crimes which do not require you to appear in court, you must appear in person if you have been arrested for a felony.

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At this first hearing, the court will find out from the prosecutor if he or she has filed charges and if so, you will receive a copy of the complaint against you.

Learn more about the Nevada criminal process.

How does a felony conviction impact your future? Do I have to register as a felon?

Having a felony conviction on your record can have a long-lasting impact on your life. First, you will likely have to serve time for the crime itself, and maybe pay fines and restitution. After that, there are ways that the law will limit your rights. For example, you will not be able to own a gun. If you choose to own a gun anyway, you can be charged with the Nevada crime of a felon in possession, which carries its own set of jail time and penalties. You will also lose your right to vote.

And yet this is still not all. In a child custody proceeding, the judge may not find it in the best interest of the child to live with a felon depending on what your crime is. You may be passed over for employment if a potential employer completes a background check. Landlords may not want to rent to you. For certain types of white collar crimes, you may not even be able to practice in your profession anymore, such as a doctor who loses his or her license to practice medicine after engaging in healthcare fraud. All of these things may not be fair because you have already completed your sentence, but unfortunately the social stigma against people with a felony record is very real.

That is one important reason why it is critical that you hire an aggressive Las Vegas criminal attorney as soon as possible if you have been arrested for a felony crime in Nevada.

The best way to avoid the stigma of a felony conviction is to avoid one in the first place, and will work hard to fight the charges against you. That may mean working to reduce the charges, have evidence thrown out, or even getting you acquitted if the case goes all the way to a trial.