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In the state of Nevada, there are many laws that have been put in place to protect children, with a substantial number of those laws aimed at preventing adults from engaging in sexual conduct with people who are underage. Many of these laws are found in Chapter 201 of Title 15 of Nevada’s state code. Chapter 201 is the chapter of Nevada’s penal code that deals with offenses against public decency and good morals.
Offenses in Chapter 201 are divided into different subcategories depending upon the nature of the crime. One of those subcategories addresses sexual relationships between pupils or students and employees at their schools. Serious penalties are imposed for adults employed by academic institutions who engage in sexual contact with pupils at those institutions, and any defendant who has been accused of violating the laws against such sexual contact should be certain to reach out to a Vegas defense lawyer for help as soon as possible after accusations are made.
LV Criminal Defense can provide representation and advice to those faced with accusations of unlawful sexual conduct with students. Our experienced legal team has successfully represented many defendants accused of different violations of the laws in Chapter 201 and we will work with you to identify a strategic approach to fighting charges to maximize the chances of getting the most favorable possible outcome. Just give us a call to find out how we can help you.
Nevada laws on sexual conduct with pupils and students are found within the Nevada Revised Statute section 201.470 through Nevada Revised Statute section 201.550. Within these statutes, N.R.S. 201.540 addresses sexual conduct between employees or volunteers at schools and pupils at those schools, and N.R.S. 201.550 addresses sexual conduct between certain employees at a college or university and students at the university.
According to N.R.S. 201.540, it is generally unlawful for a person who is 21 or older who is employed in a position of authority at a public or private school to engage in sexual conduct with pupils. It is also unlawful for a person 21 or older who is volunteering at a public or private school to engage in sexual conduct with students.
If an employee or volunteer engages in sexual activities with a pupil who is 16 or 17 and who is attending the school, the employee can be convicted of a category C felony. If the pupil is 14 or 15 years of age when the sexual contact occurs, the employee or volunteer could be found guilty of a category B felony. The punishment for this offense is a minimum of one-year imprisonment and a maximum of six years imprisonment, as well as a fine up to $5,000.
Nick Wooldridge has a long track record of representing clients accused of serious federal and state crimes in Nevada.
The definition of an employee in a position of authority or a volunteer who is covered by this statute includes teachers, instructors, administrators, coaches, teacher’s aides, and nonprofessional employees who assist with instruction or supervision. However, there is an exception in circumstances where the person who is covered by this statute is married to the pupil with whom the sexual conduct takes place.
N.R.S. 201.550 addresses sexual conduct with college or university employees and students. According to the relevant statute, a person who is 21 or older who is employed in a position of authority by a college or a university and who has sexual contact with a 16 or 17-year-old attending the college or enrolled in the college can be convicted of a Category C felony offense. The definition of employee is the same as it is for the other statute addressing sexual conduct with pupils at other schools.
Sexual conduct for purposes of these statutes is defined in the Nevada Revised Statute section 201.520. The definition of sexual conduct is very broad. Prohibited sexual contact between authority figures or volunteers and pupils includes ordinary sexual intercourse, fellatio, cunnilingus, anal intercourse, or any other oral-genital contact. It also includes any type of physical contact by a person with the unclothed genitals or the pubic area of another person for purposes of arousal or gratifying the sexual desire of either person.
Sexual conduct prohibited by statute also extends to include masturbation, lewd exhibition of the unclothed genitals, and penetration of any sort, no matter how slight, of the genital or anal opening of the body of another person by an object for purposes of arousal or gratifying sexual desires.
Finally, sexual contact prohibited by statute also includes sadomasochistic abuse, as defined in Nevada Revised Statute section 201.510.
When I initially met with Mr. Wooldridge, he took the opportunity to sit and go over my problem with me. He described details in my case which he found disturbing and explained why he I should have him on my side.
If you are accused of sexual conduct with a pupil or a student in violation of Nevada laws found in Chapter 201, you could face very serious consequences if you are charged and convicted. The mere accusation can impact your career and reputation, while conviction can result in a lengthy jail sentence and can leave you with a felony criminal record that affects the rest of your life.
You have the right to be treated as innocent until you are proven guilty, and you should reach out to a Vegas defense lawyer who can help you to protect your rights as you navigate the criminal justice system. LV Criminal Defense has extensive experience providing representation to defendants accused of violating laws involving prohibited sexual conduct and we can help you to evaluate the evidence against you to develop a sound legal strategy.
Our attorneys can put our strong negotiation skills to work to help you negotiate a favorable plea agreement if this is the best approach to limiting penalties, or can help you to fight charges in court with the goal of an acquittal or getting the charges dropped. In every case, we work hard to help you to resolve the charges against you as quickly as possible with the minimum consequences. To find out more about how our Nevada defense firm can help you, give us a call today.
