Petit larceny; penalty

Nevada Defense Attorney Explains Petit Larceny

In Nevada, larceny is illegal. Larceny is considered to be a property crime, and there is an entire subcategory of larceny offenses within Chapter 205, which is the property crimes chapter of Nevada’s penal code.

There are different types of larceny offenses related to the value of stolen items, along with the type of item that has been taken. Petit larceny is one of the types of larceny offense. Petit larceny is not as serious as grand larceny, but you could still be jailed and face other long-lasting consequences if you are found guilty of this offense.

You need to take charges of petit larceny seriously, and LV Criminal Defense is here to help. Our Vegas criminal lawyers will work closely with you to identify the types of evidence a prosecutor must present to secure a conviction and to determine the likelihood of acquittal. We can help you to decide, based on the specifics of your case, what your best course of action is for responding to charges and minimizing penalties. We can then assist you in carrying out your plan, either arguing on your behalf in court or negotiating the best plea agreement possible under the circumstances.

To find out more about the assistance our Nevada criminal defense law firm can provide to you if you’ve been accused of petit larceny or a related offense, give us a call today.

Nevada Revised Statute Section 205.240: Petit Larceny

Petit larceny is defined in Nevada Revised Statute section 205.240 to include intentionally stealing, taking away, carrying away, leading away, or driving away any items belonging to someone else that are worth less than $250.

The statute makes clear that you can be charged for taking a wide variety of different items that belong to another person, including any personal goods or property; any furniture or bedding; any real property which is severed from real property and converted to personal property; or any domesticated animals or birds that have an aggregate value of less than $250. You can be charged for enticing, leading away, or driving away domesticated birds or other domesticated animals in addition to taking those animals through other means.

While petit larceny is the charge you will face for most thefts when items are valued at less than $250, the statute indicates that you will only face petit larceny charges if you aren’t charged under a separate statute such as N.R.S. 205.220, N.R.S. 205.226, N.R.S. 205.228, and N.R.s. 475.105. These statutes include statutes related to grand larceny, theft of a firearm, and theft of a motor vehicle. If you steal particular items or if you steal items that are valued at more than $250, you will instead be charged with grand larceny and will face harsher penalties for conviction for this more serious offense.

According to the petit larceny statute, unless a greater penalty is called for under N.R.S. 205.267, conviction for petit larceny means conviction for a misdemeanor criminal offense. A misdemeanor conviction could result in fines and jail time.

In addition to these other penalties, you could also be required to make restitution to the person whose property that you took. This means paying money back to the person who you stole the items from in order to restore him to the position he or she would have been in had the larceny offense not been committed.