Compounding crimes

Nevada Defense Attorney Explains Compounding Crimes

In the state of Nevada, there are certain actions that are considered to be crimes against public justice. Some of the crimes found within this category include offenses related to bribery or corruption, as well as offenses related to perjury or subornation of perjury. There is also a group of uncategorized crimes called “other offenses” that are defined within Chapter 199 of Nevada Law. Chapter 199 is the chapter of the Nevada code where crimes against public justice are set forth, so compounding crimes are considered to be an offense against public justice.

If you are accused of compounding crimes, it is important to understand the definition of this type of offense and to know what the prosecutor must prove in order to secure a conviction against you. It’s also important to understand defenses that you can raise in order to reduce the likelihood of a guilty verdict.

LV Criminal Defense has provided representation to many defendants accused of compounding crimes. Our legal team can provide the advice and advocacy you need to navigate the criminal justice system and to fight charges related to compounding crimes. To find out more about how a Las Vegas defense attorney at our firm can help you, give us a call today.

Nevada Revised Statute Section 199.290: Compounding Crimes

Compounding crimes are defined in Nevada Revised Statute section 199.290. According to the relevant statue, it is unlawful for any person to ask for or receive any compensation, gratuity, reward, or promise of reward either directly or indirectly on the basis of an agreement that the person will compound or conceal any criminal behavior. It is also unlawful to ask for or receive compensation, gratuities, rewards, or promises of rewards either directly or indirectly in exchange for an agreement not to testify, to delay a prosecution, or to withhold any evidence.

There is an exception made in circumstances where a compromise is allowed by law. However, in most cases, any person who accepts or asks for something of value or a promise of something of value in exchange for compounding or concealing any crime or violation is breaking the law.

Any individual who is found guilty of a compound crime will face penalties based on the nature of the crime that the individual helps to compound or conceal. The crime of compounding could result in Category D felony charges, or could result in misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor charges. The penalties for each of these offenses are defined in Nevada Revised Statute section 193.130.

N.R.S. 199.290 makes clear that when legal proceedings occur as a result of accusations of a compounding crime, the prosecutor does not have to prove that anyone has been convicted of the underlying offense or the violation of the statute that the agreement was made in relation to. For example, if a person was accused of a compounding crime in connection with a robbery, it would not matter whether anyone had actually been convicted of the robbery or not. The defendant charged with compounding could still be punished if the prosecutor is able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an underlying agreement was made in which the defendant asked for or received something of value for compounding a crime, concealing a crime, or refusing to testify in exchange for items of value.