Las Vegas Criminal Defense Blog

Jermaine Charles Hoffman, the infamous “coffee shop burglar” who allegedly committed several robberies of various Carson City stores, has been sentenced to up to fifty years in prison. In July, he pleaded guilty to burglary in Nevada, grand larceny of a firearm, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon. The latter charges refer to an incident where he fired two rounds at a coffee shop owner before escaping the restaurant empty-handed.

Hoffman was originally arrested in February at a traffic stop. There, officers discovered a duffel bag holding masks, bolt cutters, gun silencers and several stolen handguns. A subsequent search of his home uncovered other stolen weapons. Some of the Carson City establishments Hoffman allegedly stole from include True Value Hardware Store, Fritsch Elementary School, Carson Jewelry, Kragen Auto Store, and a vitamin shop.

Burglary in Nevada is a category B felony, carrying one to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If a weapon is involved, the sentence is increased to two to fifteen years. Hoffman is eligible for parole after ten years.

You need to have a concealed firearms permit for the privilege of carrying concealed firearms in Nevada. Recently, there’s been a significant increase in Nevadans signing up for concealed weapons classes. It’s thought that this increase stems from people’s anticipation of more stringent gun control laws under the Obama administration.

In Washoe County, the number of people applying for concealed firearms permits per month doubled and sometimes tripled since November's presidential election. Currently, the sheriff’s office is receiving about 200 applications a month. Middle-aged men constitute the bulk of registrants, though more senior citizens have been applying for permits recently.

If you're caught carrying concealed firearms in Nevada and you don't have a permit, you face charges of a category C felony, which carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.