Las Vegas Criminal Defense Blog

Next month a twenty-two year old veteran from the military is set to face trial in Elko for allegedly assaulting an elderly man in a car wash. He was charged with battery with intent to kill as well as the Nevada crime of auto theft. The accused served in Iraq and claims he sustained brain injuries resulting from an explosion.

The Nevada crime of auto theft (also called grand larceny of a motor vehicle) is the intentional stealing or taking away of another person's car. It's still considered auto theft even if you have the key or if it's a rental car you fail to return. Auto-theft is less serious than carjacking, which is the taking (or attempted taking) of a car by physical force or threats.

A typical defense to the Nevada crime of auto theft is that the car belonged to the accused, or that the accused merely borrowed the car with permission. If the car is worth $2,500 or more, grand larceny of a car is a category B felony carrying restitution, a fine of up to $10,000, and one-to-ten years in prison. Otherwise, it's a category C felony carrying the same penalties, except that the maximum prison term is five years.

For more on this story, go to: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jul/27/trial-date-set-in-northeast-nevada-car-wash-attack/

Last week, a good Samaritan in Reno alerted police to two men he witnessed allegedly breaking Nevada grand larceny law. The suspects were reportedly trying to steal a car when the witness reported him to the authorities. The men fled but were arrested shortly thereafter on suspicion of resisting officers and breaking Nevada grand larceny law.

Sgt. Colby Palmer praised community vigilance in helping the police do their job: "We have had several occasions in the past several months where an alert and concerned citizen has promptly called police with their observation of suspicious activity. This has allowed police to respond with detailed and accurate information and ultimately arrest the suspects involved."

Nevada grand larceny law makes it a crime to intentionally steal another person’s property valued at $250 or more. If the value is less than $2,500, it’s a Class C felony carrying one to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If the value is $2,500 or more, the maximum prison sentence is raised to ten years.

Last week in Churchill County District Court, U.S. Army soldier Jeremiah Roth pleaded guilty to breaking Nevada grand larceny law for having stolen upwards of $3,000 from a Taco Bell while he was employed there. The judge sentenced him to one to three years in prison.

Roth previously had cases in Las Vegas as well as Carson City for the crimes of burglary and possession of stolen property, but they were dismissed. He currently owes more than ten thousand dollars in back child support. He’s also facing charges for forgery and theft in Georgia, where he allegedly fled to after stealing the money.

Nevada grand larceny law makes it a crime to intentionally steal another person’s property valued at $250 or more. If the value is less than $250, then it’s only petit larceny, a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail. If the value is between $250 and $2,500, then it’s a class C felony, carrying one to five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. If the value is equal to or greater than $2,500, the possible maximum prison term is increased to ten years.

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.

According to statistics just released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the majority of vehicles stolen in Nevada are at least ten years old. Of the top ten cars most frequently stolen, seven of them were made in the 1990’s, with the 1992 Honda Accord taking the first place spot.

Bob Feldman of the Nevada Insurance Council explained, “People tend to think that brand-new high-priced vehicles are the most likely to be stolen, but the data just doesn’t support that. Car thieves target the older cars that can be broken down and sold for parts instead.”

Meanwhile, Las Vegas has dropped from first place among U.S. cities for highest auto theft rights down to seventh place between 2006 and 2008: Per capita, now there are 732 auto thefts per 100,000 residents as opposed to 1,256 thefts three years ago. Authorities credit the police department’s Vehicle Investigations Project for Enforcement and Recovery (VIPER) program.

Continue reading "Revealing Statistics of Stolen Vehicles in Nevada" »