Former Janitor in Nevada Federal Courthouse Pleads Guilty to Assault
Last week a former janitor at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse pleaded guilty to one charge of simple assault, a federal crime which carries a maximum of six months in jail. Initially, though, he was charged with abusive sexual contact. He confessed to U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson that he grabbed a female co-worker in a jury restroom and then would not let her leave.
In state court, the crime of breaking Nevada assault law is defined as putting another person in reasonable apprehension of immediate and unlawful physical contact. Unlike battery, assault does not require that physical contact be made, but the alleged victim must be aware of the assault in order for it to be criminal. Furthermore, the prosecutor must prove that the suspect intended to perform the assault in order for him/her to be found guilty.
The penalties for violating Nevada assault law depend on the circumstances. If it’s committed without a deadly weapon, it’s just a misdemeanor and carries up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 maximum fine (the judge may impose community service instead, too). But breaking Nevada assault law with a deadly weapon is a category B felony, carrying one to six years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine. Often if someone is charged with mayhem that did not result in permanent injury, the prosecutor will reduce the charge to assault.
Read more about this story at http://www.lvrj.com/news/ex-courthouse-janitor-pleads-guilty-89670467.html.
