Adrian Lobo offers expert, discreet legal assistance and knows when to negotiate, when to plea, and when to fight. Adrian will take your case all the way from investigation through trial if that is what is necessary to get you the best result possible. Below are just some of the criminal law areas in which Adrian has expertise zealously advocating for her clients.
Drug Crimes
It is no secret that drug use in Las Vegas is very common, and it’s a fact that Las Vegas city and Nevada state officials hate. Las Vegas and Clark County police are tireless in their pursuit of drug dealers and users, and Nevada punishes drug crimes severely. Penalties for drug crimes range from probation up to long-term imprisonment, depending on the type of drug and the amount possessed. Even marijuana, if sold illegally or possessed in large enough quantities, can land you in prison for an extended period of time. If you are a visitor caught with a controlled substance, or a Las Vegas local picked up for your makeshift import/export business, you need a passionate and committed criminal lawyer who will work to get your charges reduced or dropped and keep your weekend off from ruining the rest of your life. Don’t come on vacation and leave on probation. Call Lobo Law for help.
White Collar Crimes
“White collar” or “business” crimes may not feel the same as armed robbery while someone is committing the act, but the punishments for white collar convictions are all too real. White collar convictions can cost you thousands of dollars, disrupt your business, affect your professional licenses, and can land you in a Nevada state prison for an extended term just like any other felony. Las Vegas has its own special crimes and punishment for casino debt, as well. If you are charged with a white collar crime, you need knowledgeable and savvy legal help from a criminal defense attorney who understands both the complexities of the applicable laws and the underlying facts and circumstances that make up white collar cases.
Violent Crimes
Crimes of violence lead to some of the most serious and emotionally charged cases. Felony violent crimes carry the most severe penalties, up to and including life in prison without the possibility of parole. Unfortunately, because violent crimes can get the attention of the media, often defendants and their attorneys have to fight a simultaneous battle in a legal court and the court of public opinion. Even an acquittal, if the case is not handled perfectly, can ruin a defendant’s public image. When you face the cases with the highest stakes, you need a dedicated and skilled criminal lawyer who knows how to zealously fight on your behalf while maintaining discretion and preserving your best options and defenses.
Sex Crimes
Crimes involving sexual conduct present some of the most sensitive and difficult cases to handle. Allegations can turn into de facto convictions in the eyes of the police, the prosecutor, and the court of public opinion. Sex crimes often turn on the intentions of the people involved in a given encounter, and they require delicate but firm legal advocacy. The penalties for sex crimes can be extremely severe, some as heavy as the penalties for murder. Sex crimes also carry a heavy social stigma, particularly because convictions often also involve registering as a sex offender. Being placed on the sex offender registry can have lasting consequences for housing and employment, as well as a myriad of other unforeseen repercussions. Adrian Lobo understands the serious and sensitive nature of sex crime charges and is prepared to defend you to the fullest extent possible.
What to Do If Arrested
An Experienced Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help If You Are Arrested
Nobody heads out onto the Las Vegas Strip or makes vacation plans at a Las Vegas casino with the expectation of being arrested. However, law enforcement officials regularly stop, search, and arrest both residents and tourists alike in the Las Vegas area. People find themselves charged with crimes such as DUIs, drug offenses, sex crimes, and other serious criminal charges that could result in jail time and substantial fines upon conviction. A Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer can help.
In the meantime, what should you do if you are arrested? The following are steps you should take if you are arrested in Nevada.
1. Remain As Calm As Possible
We know that being arrested can be one of the most frightening and anxiety-inducing experiences of a person’s life, but it is important to remain as calm as possible and to think clearly and logically about your next steps. Do not make any rash decisions or choices, and know that the very first action you should take is to call your lawyer.
2. Call a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer
You have the right to call an attorney according to the U.S. Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, and you should take advantage of that right as soon as possible. Your criminal defense lawyer can discuss your case with you immediately and plan for the next steps in your case.
3. Remain Silent Until You Call a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer
No matter what the police say to you, avoid talking and remain silent. Regardless of whether you live in Nevada or were vacationing on the Strip, the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona give you the right to remain silent when you are arrested. The police cannot hold your silence against you, but they can use any and all statements you make against you when determining criminal charges and building a case against you.
By remaining silent, you can determine the best way to frame your defense with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Las Vegas.
4. Comply with the Arresting Officer Inasmuch As Possible So That You Do Not Face Resisting Arrest Charges
When we say you should comply, we do not mean that you should speak or make a statement if the arresting officer asks you to do so. Rather, you should avoid trying to physically fight the arrest, and you should avoid trying to run away from the arresting officer. If you attempt to get away or to resist the arrest, you could be charged with resisting arrest.
5. Do Not Give Consent to a Search
Regardless of where the arrest occurs, the police might ask to search your motor vehicle, your home, your hotel room, or elsewhere. Do not agree. You do not have to consent to a search, and whatever the police find could result in additional charges.
What Happens in a Criminal Case?
Las Vegas Criminal Lawyer Assisting Clients in Nevada
Facing criminal charges in Las Vegas can be confusing, intimidating, and alarming for anybody regardless of that person’s criminal record. Las Vegas has a reputation for arrests, and many tourists to the casinos on the Strip find themselves enjoying their vacation one moment and arrested the next for a criminal offense under Nevada law. While the Strip and surrounding areas in Las Vegas have many opportunities for tourists and residents alike, it can be easy to get carried away with the culture of the region.
At Lobo Law, we know that people are wrongly accused of crimes every day, and we also know that people make mistakes and deserve to have experienced counsel to assist with a defense. We pride ourselves on serving our clients aggressively while still remaining compassionate toward every client we serve. One of the most frustrating issues surrounding criminal charges in Nevada a lack of clarity about how the criminal law process works. We want to say more about the general procedure in a criminal case in Las Vegas.
1. Indictments and Arrests
The first step in any criminal case is an indictment and an arrest (Nevada Rev. Stat. §§ 173.015 to 173.205). Sometimes the police are already bui
lding a case against a person and have been gathering evidence to obtain an arrest warrant. In those cases, a grand jury looks at the evidence to decide whether there is reason to move forward with the case. If the grand jury believes there is sufficient evidence, a district attorney will file an indictment and a judge can sign an arrest warrant.
However, many arrests simply occur when the police observe a person allegedly committing a crime. If the police believe they have probable cause, they can arrest a person.
2. Posting Bail
Once a person has been arrested, she or he may be able to post bail. Posting bail means putting up money or other assets so that the defendant can be released prior to the arraignment and the pretrial process more generally.
Most people are eligible for bail, but there are some cases where the judge decides that bail is inappropriate.
3. The Pretrial Process: Arraignment, Pretrial Conferences, and Preliminary Hearings
The pretrial process refers to everything that occurs before the defendant goes on trial. The first part is arraignment, which is the defendant’s first court appearance. At the arraignment, the prosecutor will present the charges against the defendant, and the defendant can plead “guilty” or “not guilty.” Pretrial conferences and preliminary hearings following the initial arraignment, and these involve a general “discovery” process in which the defendant can have access to the evidence in the case, and the prosecutor presents evidence that the state has against the defendant.
The pretrial process is also the phase at which the defendant can agree to a plea bargain. However, a defendant should never agree to a plea bargain without seeking advice from a Nevada criminal defense lawyer.
4. Going to Trial in Nevada
If the defendant does not agree to a plea bargain, then the case will go to trial. Trials can take anywhere from a day to many months depending upon the specific facts of the case. Both sides present evidence and witnesses are called to support each side’s case. The trial may be a bench trial (with a judge) or jury trial depending upon the charges and the specific facts of the case. The defendant remains permitted to agree to a plea bargain throughout the trial-up until the verdict.
The verdict comes at the end of the trial, and it says whether the defendant is guilty (convicted) or not guilty of the charges. In some cases, a defendant can appeal a guilty verdict.
5. Sentencing in a Las Vegas Criminal Case
If a defendant is convicted, or if a defendant pleads guilty through a plea bargain, then sentencing will occur in a separate hearing. Criminal sentences vary widely depending upon the case. Generally speaking, however, a sentence may include: community service, financial fines, classes, restitution, and jail time.
Get the Las Vegas Criminal Defense You Deserve
Every case is different, and every case deserves skilled, effective, dedicated, and caring legal help. If you or someone you love is under investigation or has been charged with a crime in Nevada, you need customized legal help based on the specific facts of your case. Reach out to a qualified Las Vegas criminal lawyer to discuss your matter in order to receive the best legal advice available, ensure your rights are protected, and get the help you deserve. Contact Lobo Law today at 702-290-8998 to schedule a consultation or for immediate assistance.