Misdemeanor Charges

Las Vegas Misdemeanor Defense Attorney

Nevada law defines a misdemeanor as a crime punishable by up to 6 months or less in jail and a fine not to exceed $1,000. A misdemeanor is less severe than a felony, which carries a potential jail sentence of 1 year or more. A misdemeanor can be as simple as a traffic ticket or as serious as battery constituting domestic violence.

Some misdemeanors have mandatory jail time imposed if a person is convicted, while other misdemeanors carry only a fine. To help reduce your potential fines or jail time, it is imperative that you contact an experienced Las Vegas misdemeanor attorney to defend your rights.

In the state of Nevada, a misdemeanor trial is conducted before a judge, not a jury. The prosecutor still has to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, but it is the judge who decides whether the prosecutor has met their burden.

The Law Office of Joseph Gersten is committed to aggressively defending you against Las Vegas Misdemeanor Charges. Even though a misdemeanor is not as serious as a felony, a misdemeanor conviction can still have a serious impact on your life. In some instances, being convicted of a misdemeanor will prevent you from owning a firearm, may suspend your driver’s license, can require you to register as a sex offender, and can have a significant impact should you ever face federal charges. Having good representation means you will be aware of these potential pitfalls and more than likely avoid them.

Attorney Joe Gersten represents clients charged with misdemeanors in Las Vegas and throughout Clark County. Contact Attorney Gersten immediately if you have a felony arrest or conviction at to discuss your case.

Nevada Misdemeanor Charges Information Center

Misdemeanor Trial Jurisdictions and Municipal Courts

In Las Vegas, there are several different jurisdictions that hear misdemeanor trials. If a misdemeanor allegedly occurred within the city limits of Las Vegas, then the City of Las Vegas would prosecute the case and the case would be heard in the Las Vegas Municipal Court.

The other Clark County municipalities are Boulder City, Henderson, Laughlin, Mesquite, and North Las Vegas. If a misdemeanor allegedly occurred in Clark County, and not in a municipality, then the Clark County District Attorney’s Office would normally prosecute the case in District Court.

Las Vegas Municipal Court

200 Lewis Avenue
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 382-6878

Boulder City Municipal Court

501 Avenue G
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 293-9278

Henderson Municipal Court

243 South Water Street
Henderson, NV 89015
(702) 267-3300

Laughlin Justice Court

101 Civic Way, Suite 2
Laughlin, NV 89029
(702) 298-4622

Mesquite Municipal Court

500 Hillside Drive
Mesquite, NV 89027

(702) 346-5291

North Las Vegas Municipal Court

2332 Las Vegas Blvd N. Suite 100
North Las Vegas, NV 89030

(702) 633-1130

Common Misdemeanor Charges in Las Vegas

Generally misdemeanors in Nevada are punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment.

Assault (NRS §200.47) - Intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm. Under Nevada Law, the prosecution must prove that the suspect had the intent to cause harm to the victim and that the victim was aware of the assault as it was taking place.
Battery (NRS §200.390) - Any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another. NRS 200.390 has the detailed elements for battery. Battery differs from an assault because the suspect must have intent and actual force must be applied to the victim’s body. For assault no touching needs to take place.
Battery constituting Domestic Violence (1st and 2nd Offense) (NRS § 200.485) - Nevada Law defines battery constituting Domestic Violence as any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon a family member, spouse, or significant other.
Driving Under the Influence/DUI (1st offense) (NRS Chapter 480) - Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Petit Theft (NRS § 205.0821) - A person who without lawful authority knowingly controls any property of another person with the intent to deprive that person of that property. The theft is considered a misdemeanor where the value of the property is not greater than $250. Theft crimes are found in NRS Chapter 205.
Local Drug Possession (NRS) - Any person within the state of Nevada who possesses any drug which may not be lawfully introduced into interstate commerce under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Prostitution (NRS § 201.354) - A male or female person who for a feeengages in sexual intercourse, oral genital contact, or any touching of the sexual organs or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of either person is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Trespass (NRS § 207.200) - A person who goes upon the land or into any building of another with the intent to vex or annoy the owner or occupant OR a person willfully goes or remains upon any land or in any building after having been warned by the owner or occupant thereof not to trespass is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Vandalism (NRS Chapter 205) - Intentional and malicious criminal damage to property. Crime definitions against property in Nevada can be found in NRS Chapter 205.
Shoplifting (NRS § 205.08321) - Taking the property of another without permission with the intent of permanently depriving the owner of the property. Theft crimes are found in NRS 205.0821.
Resisting Arrest (NRS §200.390) - Falls under the category of battery, but the difference is that a police officer is the victim of a physical attack. Resisting arrest charges could also stem from running away (fleeing) from an officer on foot or in a vehicle.
Traffic Tickets (NRS § 480.230) - Nevada law has a wide array of traffic violations such as speeding, non-moving violations, parking violations, driving on a suspended license and failure to wear a seatbelt. Visit the Traffic Crimes page for more information on misdemeanor traffic crimes.

These common misdemeanors do not have to negatively impact your life. Get assistance from The Law Office of Joseph Gersten if you have been charged with a misdemeanor.

Gross Misdemeanors

A gross misdemeanor is a severe version of a regular misdemeanor. Usually several convictions for the same misdemeanor can elevate the offense to a gross misdemeanor which ranks right below the felony category of crimes in Nevada.

Examples of gross misdemeanors:

Possession of one oz. or less of marijuana
Stalking (1st or 2nd offense)
False imprisonment
Indecent exposure
Open or gross lewdness

The penalty for a person convicted of a gross misdemeanor is imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 1 year, or by a fine of not more than $2,000 or both imprisonment and fines. Gross misdemeanor trials are conducted before a jury. The process is identical to how a felony is handled.

Finding the Best Nevada Misdemeanor Defense Attorney

Are you or someone you know currently facing misdemeanor criminal charges in Las Vegas, Nevada? Contact the Law Office of Joseph Gerstenfor a free legal case evaluation. Attorney Gersten is a knowledgeable Las Vegas defense attorney who is dedicated to working to aggressively fight the charges and protect his clients rights in misdemeanor cases.