Las Vegas Criminal Defense Blog

Police have arrested ten people and are looking for two more for allegedly stealing over a dozen guns from a Pahrump residence on Superbowl Sunday. The arrest followed the suspects leading police on a high speed chase. The suspects face several charges including DUI, conspiracy, grand larceny, burglary, possession of stolen property, and the Nevada crime of possession of a stolen vehicle.

The Nevada crime of possession of a stolen vehicle occurs when someone intentionally possesses or receives a car they know (or reasonably should have known) has been stolen. This law is also applicable to motorcycles and trucks. Common defenses include that you didn't know the car was stolen, you didn't possess the car, and that the police violated the 4th Amendment when investigating your case.

Penalties for the Nevada crime of possession of a stolen vehicle depends on how much the car is worth. If it's less than $2,500, the sentence is restitution, one to five years in prison, and maybe $10,000 in fines. Otherwise, the sentence is restitution, one to ten years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

For more on this story go to: http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/26778127/detail.html

Last month a thirty-one year old Las Vegas man was booked into the Pahrump Detention Center for allegedly violating Nevada possession of stolen vehicle law as well as failing to stop on signal of police officer. He was released on his own recognizance on $10,000 bail. Read more about this and other stories at http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2010/Feb-24-Wed-2010/news/34448630.html.

Nevada possession of stolen vehicle law (NRS 205.273) makes it a crime for someone to intentionally procure or pass title to a motor vehicle which he/she should know is stolen. It’s also a crime to receive, transfer possession of or possess a stolen vehicle to another person if he/she knows it’s stolen. Obviously, this law doesn’t apply to officers if they’re engaged in duty at the time of the receipt, transfer or possession of the car.

Violating Nevada possession of stolen vehicle law is a category C felony, carrying one to ten years in prison and maybe a $10,000 fine. But if the vehicle is valued at $2,500 or more, then it’s a category B felony, carrying one to ten years and of a fine of up to $10,000. The court will also order restitution.