Las Vegas
1201 S. Maryland Parkway,Las Vegas, NV 89104
Drug Crimes Lawyers in Las Vegas, NV
Schedule Initial Case EvaluationWhile Las Vegas, Nevada, is known as Sin City, you shouldn’t let the marketing line fool you. Nevada treats drug crimes very seriously, particularly in cases of highly controlled substances or where large amounts are involved. Even a first conviction for possession of a controlled substance could land you in prison for up to four years – and it only gets more serious from there.
Charged with drug crimes in Las Vegas? It’s essential to seek legal defense from experienced drug crime lawyers. Otherwise, you’re risking your reputation, finances, and even your freedom.
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The Landscape of Drug Crimes in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, it is against the law to possess or sell scheduled controlled substances like:
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine
- LSD
Furthermore, even pharmaceutical drugs can lead to criminal charges. Possession of drug paraphernalia may also result in criminal charges.
The specifics of the charges you might face depend on what you were allegedly doing with the illegal drugs. Here are some common drug-related charges in Las Vegas and what they mean in layperson’s terms:
- Possession: This drug-related offense in Las Vegas is having an illegal substance on one’s person or within their grasp, be it in their residence or automobile. The penalties on conviction depend on the type and amount of the drug possessed, and start at a year in prison and a $10,000 fine for the least serious offense.
- Distribution: Dispensing prohibited substances to others is known as distribution. The consequences are even more severe than simple possession and can involve many years behind bars and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
- Trafficking: This involves moving larger quantities of drugs and can result in charges at the federal level. If the defendant allegedly had 28 grams or more of a controlled substance, they could face no fewer than 10 years in prison, up to life.
The penalties a defendant faces on conviction become more severe if the crime occurred near a school, playground, or other facility where children typically congregate.
The Benefits of Hiring a Las Vegas Drug Crime Lawyer
Since the punishment for drug crimes in Nevada can be severe, it’s vital to seek the guidance of an experienced drug crime attorney. The legal acumen they bring to your case starts with an initial case review, where they can get a feel for your charges and your side of the story. It’s important to be honest with your attorney from the very beginning, as the quality of their defense rests on knowing the facts of the case, good, bad, and ugly.
Here are just a few of the things an experienced drug crime defense lawyer brings to the table:
- A thorough understanding of Nevada and federal drug crime laws
- Working relationships with state and federal prosecutors
- Negotiation skills for building a plea bargain or otherwise reducing charges
- Experience handling and winning cases like yours
The stakes are high. Years of your life could hang in the balance. Instead of leaving things to chance, trying to represent yourself, or relying on an overworked public defender, invest in yourself and hire a capable, committed drug crime defense lawyer.
The Legal Process in Drug Crime Cases
Dealing with drug crime cases in Las Vegas can be a daunting experience, particularly for those unfamiliar with the criminal justice system. The process usually consists of multiple stages:
- Arrest: When police arrest you on suspicion of committing a drug crime, they will take you into custody and book you at the local jail.
- Arraignment: You will receive official notice of the accusations against you and be given a trial date by the court.
- Pre-trial motions: Your lawyer may ask to dismiss certain charges or challenge evidence during pre-trial proceedings.
- Plea bargain: Criminal charges may be reduced if the prosecution offers a plea bargain.
- Trial: Evidence presented in court determines your guilt or innocence. Your drug crimes lawyer will present a robust defense before a judge and, potentially, a jury.
- Sentencing: A sentence will be imposed by the judge based on the severity of the offense and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.
- Appeal: If your lawyer believes that the sentence was in any way in error or that mistakes were made in the trial process, they can appeal the decision to a higher court for review.
How a Drug Crime Lawyer Can Help
Drug crimes in Nevada are complicated, and it is hard to try to defend yourself if you don’t have years of specific training and experience in the field. Instead, turn to a professional drug crimes defense lawyer for help. They know a range of possible defenses to the charges against you, as well as when the prosecution is overstepping its bounds. After charges are brought against you, you should add the protection only a drug crime lawyer can bring. It is important to take charges for drug crimes seriously and seek legal representation to understand your options and develop a strong defense plan.
Once you’ve secured the services of a drug crimes lawyer, they can use a variety of defenses and strategies to challenge drug charges. Here are a few examples:
- Lack of evidence: Your attorney can make a case that the evidence of your involvement in drug possession, distribution, or trafficking is inadequate to secure conviction.
- Illegal search and seizure: Your lawyer may seek dismissal of evidence obtained through a search and seizure that violated your constitutional rights.
- Entrapment: Your lawyer may argue entrapment if you were pressured into committing a drug crime by law enforcement.
- Medical necessity: Your lawyer could show that the drugs you had were needed to treat a medical condition.
- Mistaken identity: Your lawyer may argue that you were falsely identified as the perpetrator of a drug crime.
- Violation of Miranda Rights: If you did not receive an explanation of your rights before being questioned, any remarks uttered during the interrogation can be deemed unacceptable in a legal setting.
Contact De Castroverde Criminal & Immigration Immediately
The drug crime lawyers at De Castroverde Law Group can advocate for your rights and work towards the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today if you face drug charges in Las Vegas. Your future may depend on it. In addition, it is important to remember that even after a conviction, there may be options for appeals or post-conviction relief. We’re standing by to review your case for free and build a robust defense on your behalf. If you’re charged with a drug offense, you need experienced legal advice immediately. Our attorneys include former prosecutors who understand how criminal cases are built and where to find the weaknesses. We will work with you to find a proper resolution.
What Can our Drug Crimes Lawyers We Help You With?
De Castroverde Law Group has helped countless clients defend against serious charges, including:
World-Class Criminal Defense
Former district attorney Frank Johan Coumou discusses the De Castroverde Law Group’s unparalleled experience defending clients against all types of criminal charges.
How Can a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer Help Me?
De Castroverde Law Group is dedicated to helping someone like you. Someone who has been criminally charged, who has been arrested or someone who knows that they are under criminal investigation. These are frightening scenarios and are usually accompanied by high levels of stress. If you find that you are in a situation similar to this, we highly encourage you to look around our site. Your Las Vegas criminal attorney can do the following:
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Conduct / oversee all communication with law enforcement to help ensure you do not say something that may result in unintentionally incriminating yourself;
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Work with professionals in forensics and other fields to conduct an independent investigation;
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Interview witnesses and law enforcement to get a clearer picture of what occurred – possibly to uncover information or evidence in your favor;
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Negotiate with the prosecuting attorney to lessen the charges and therefore the potential penalties that you may otherwise face; and
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In criminal court, your Las Vegas criminal lawyer can assert your rights and help the judge and jury understand your side of the story in order to work toward a ruling in your favor.
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If you have been accused and are looking for high-quality representation, you should not hesitate to consult with a Las Vegas criminal lawyer from our firm. De Castroverde Law Group is prepared and determined to offer you dedicated and detailed legal defense, and we provide attentive legal guidance to support our clients’ entire proceedings.We have been successful in helping countless clients to get their lives back on track and can help you to fight for your legal rights.
Information & Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the criminal trial procedures and overall process is crucial when you have been charged in Las Vegas. A trial may seem tidy on television shows, but it is usually a long and technical process which can take months or even years to resolve. There are many aspects to a trial, the first of which is deciding whether the defense wants the trial to be done by judge or jury. If it is to be done by jury, the selection process, known as “voir dire,” consists of the prosecution and defense asking questions to potential jurors.
In a trial, surprises are not allowed. Witnesses must be submitted beforehand, and both parties given the opportunity to question them. Any relevant evidence must also be submitted beforehand and agreed upon by the judge and opponent. Witnesses and evidence can be deliberated, as one party is allowed to argue against something being allowed in trial.
Cross-examination of witnesses happens next, and your lawyer can question the validity of their claims. If they feel that the prosecution has not produced enough evidence to convince a jury of guilt, they can move to have the trial dismissed. If that is not granted, then the defense will have the opportunity to show inaccuracies in the prosecution’s case. After all of this, each side presents closing arguments, and the jury is given instructions before the deliberate everything they have heard. The final step is verdict and, if necessary, sentencing.
Defense strategy in a Las Vegas court will depend on the type of crime and the circumstances surrounding it. As with all criminal cases, there is a presumption of innocence until guilt is proven through trial or a plea. The presumption of innocence is the basis of a not guilty plea, in which your attorney will procure evidence and witnesses to build your case.
This is done to convince the jury that there is reasonable doubt about your guilt. It’s not enough for a jury to just think that you did it; the evidence has to be almost overwhelming. If it’s applicable, you and your lawyer will use the alibi defense. If the crime occurred at a certain time or place, and you can provide evidence that you weren’t there. For example, if the crime happened between 9:00 and 11:00 pm, but you were at a movie, a ticket stub or the receipt for your popcorn could absolve you of guilt.
Unless you have been arrested after already being released from prison or are currently serving a suspended sentence, you will likely be admitted to bail. Bail is a dollar amount necessary to be released from prison after an arrest, and is determined by the judge of magistrate. This release is temporary, and is usually also made under the condition that you will appear in court.
Bail is set based on the nature and severity of the offense for which you are accused. Another thing that the judge considers is the likelihood that you will attempt to leave town or break the law again should you not be in prison. A “bail algorithm” is used which considers several other factors, such as age, health, criminal history and record of failing to appear in court, if one exists. This is done to avoid any accusation of bias against or towards the defendant.
The magistrate has the authority to set a bail amount as they see fit. A person arrested for drunk driving will have their bail determined by how far over the legal limit they were, whether they caused an accident and whether there are any injuries. For all other crimes – from petty theft to murder and everything in between – the bail will be set by a judge. The amount of bail for domestic violence or battery is predetermined by Nevada state law, and depends on whether you saw a judge or magistrate and how long after the crime you were admitted:
$3,000 – If the person has no prior arrests and there’s no reason to believe that the battery caused significant bodily harm and is admitted less than 12 hours after the crime. If it’s been more than 12 hours, violating a restraining order, stalking or harassment would also receive this bail amount.
$5,000 – If it’s been less than 12 hours: no previous convictions but the battery caused significant harm, or they have one previous conviction of domestic violence but didn’t cause significant harm. If it’s been more than 12 hours: previous conviction of violating a restraining order, stalking or harassment.
$15,000 – If it’s been less than 12 hours: one previous conviction of domestic violence and they caused significant harm, or two previous battery convictions. More than 12 hours: two or more previous convictions of harassment, stalking or violating a restraining order.
Many factors are considered when choosing whether to release someone without bail, such as whether conditions outside of prison will still prevent someone from attempting to flee, as well as employment history, criminal history and mental state. If you fail to appear in court or commit a crime while on bail, then you will be held in prison.
No matter the crime for which you have been arrested, you are entitled to fair and just treatment under federal law. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) outlines all of the rights you as an inmate would have:
Freedom of speech and religion – You still have the right to communicate with family and the outside world, as well as send and receive mail. The latter is subject to the institution’s need to protect security, and assuming there is no security risk are not allowed to be confiscated.
Medical and mental health care – All of your needs in this regard have to be met. Whether it’s something simple such as asthma and you need your inhaler or something that could be fatal if left unmedicated, you have a right to sustain your health.
Cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions – This pertains to many things: overcrowding, violence or abuse and mistreatment based on race, gender or religion are against the law.
If you have been incarcerated and you feel your rights in any regard have been violated, seek counsel from an experience attorney. Constitutional rights are extended to all citizens no matter what, so if these protections aren’t afforded to you by the prison officers, you have a right to a lawsuit.
What Our Clients Say About Us.
By far the best lawyers you could ask for. They completely alleviate you from any stress and hassles from your case and they always end up giving good news. I’m so happy I was able to utilize De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers and would never consider going anywhere else. Craig Hendricks and his team are phenomenal. Gianna G.
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