Las Vegas Criminal Defense Blog

This month the final defendant to be sentenced for the assassination of a Palomino Club doorman in 2005 was ordered to serve four to twelve years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon. At the Las Vegas sentencing hearing the judge gave him credit for already having done more than a thousand days in jail, which means he'll be eligible for parole in a few weeks.

A Las Vegas sentencing hearing is where the judge imposes a penalty on a defendant who has been convicted of a crime. In some ways it's like a mini-trial where both the state and defense may call witnesses and present evidence. Depending on the gravity of the crime, these hearings may last less than a minute or span several hours.

During a Las Vegas sentencing hearing the state may present "aggravating" evidence to persuade the judge to hand down a harsher penalty. Examples include that any injuries or damage resulting from the crime were substantial, that the defendant used a weapon to commit the crime, or that the defendant has a long criminal record. Conversely, the defense may offer "mitigating" evidence to sway the judge to give a lax sentence. Examples include that the defendant had an abusive childhood, has helped the community, and/or has suffered from a mental illness.

For more on this story go to: http://www.lvrj.com/news/final-palomino-club-murder-defendant-sentenced-115785559.html?ref=559

Last week a twenty-year old man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in the shooting death of his sister's best friend nearly a year ago. The defendant claimed the incident was an accident. At his Nevada sentencing hearing he apologized, and the judge imposed a penalty of up to six years in prison.

A Nevada sentencing hearing occurs near the end of a criminal case after the defendant has been found guilty of a crime or pleaded guilty (or no contest) to a crime. The purpose of the hearing is to determine what punishments the defendant will be sentenced to. Standard penalties include prison, community service, fines, restitution, probation, or educational classes.

Sentencing hearings for misdemeanor crimes tend to be very short and occur right after the guilty plea or verdict. But a Nevada sentencing hearing for a felony usually occurs several weeks after the conviction and may last many hours. The defense typically calls family and friends to plead for leniency, while the state may call victims and victims' families to ask for a harsh sentence.

For more on this story, go to: http://www.lvrj.com/news/man-sentenced-for-shooting-sister-s-best-friend-115074564.html

Last week a father of a five-year-old who shot himself in the head pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm. The boy reportedly found the loaded gun in his dad's car. The father's Nevada sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 23.

A Nevada sentencing hearing is the last stage of a criminal case once the defendant was found guilty or pleaded guilty. During the hearing the prosecution typically argues for harsh penalties while the defense argues for the laxest. Depending on the case, sentencing hearings may last a few minutes to several hours.

A Nevada sentencing hearing looks similar to a trial in that both defense counsel and the D.A. may call witnesses and give closing arguments. Defendants also have the right to be present at the sentencing, to have an attorney, and to propose alternative sentencing. However, there is no right to confront or cross-examine witnesses.

For more on this story go to: http://www.lvrj.com/news/father-enters-guilty-plea-in-shooting-death-of-child-114609559.html