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If you are accused of helping someone after that individual has committed a crime, you may be considered an accessory. Accessories can face serious criminal charges. Rules for venue establish exactly what county has the authority to preside over a case in which a prosecutor presses charges and tries to prove a claim against you.
LV Criminal Defense (Wooldridge Law) helps many clients throughout Clark County and surrounding areas to argue against conviction for their role as an accessory. We know how to effectively raise defenses or negotiate plea deals that result in minimal penalties or no penalties at all. We also understand rules of criminal procedure, including those determining venue, and can put our knowledge of procedural rules to work for you to help develop effective legal strategies.
Give us a call as soon as possible after your arrest or when you are under investigation so we can guide you through the criminal process and advise you every step of the way.
An accessory to a crime is someone who provides help or aid to another person who has broken the law. Nevada Revised Statute section 195.030 defines an accessory to include every person- other than spouses or domestic partners- who helps to hide evidence, or who otherwise helps defendants to try to escape from arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment.
An accessory must knowingly do something to help a defendant who has committed a misdemeanor or a felony offense. This could include destroying or hiding evidence, helping to destroy or hide evidence, or concealing the alleged offender. If an accessory helps someone to hide a felony crime, the accessory has committed a felony. Helping someone who has committed a misdemeanor, on the other hand, is only a misdemeanor offense.
A defendant may be arrested, prosecuted, and tried only in a court that has jurisdiction. Nevada criminal courts have jurisdiction over people accused of acting as accessories within Nevada’s borders, because these individual defendants have violated state law.
Nick Wooldridge has a long track record of representing clients accused of serious federal and state crimes in Nevada.
Different counties throughout Nevada have their own criminal courts. Rules for venue determine what county has the authority to preside over a criminal case. The venue rules applicable to accessories are found in Nevada Revised Statute Section 171.065. According to the venue rules found in the Nevada criminal procedure code, an accessory may be tried in the county where he or she provided aid after the initial crime was committed. An accessory may also be tried in the county where the original criminal offense took place.
Although there may be multiple counties that are an appropriate venue for a case to go forward against a defendant accused of acting as an accessory, the defendant may not be convicted separately in multiple counties for the same alleged crime. According to N.R.S. 171.075 conviction, or an acquittal, in any county means that no further criminal proceedings can go forward based on the same alleged offense.
Your life should not be ruined because you allegedly helped someone after that person violated the law. There are defenses that can be raised when you are accused of acting as an accessory. At LV Criminal Defense, we not only know the rules of criminal procedure applicable to where you will be tried, but we also know how to help you effectively prepare the strongest possible case to present during trial.
To get help from a dedicated advocate with experience and advanced legal skills helping clients fight charges, contact us today to speak with a Las Vegas defense attorney.
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.
