Misdemeanor Defense

A misdemeanor is a “minor crime” and not as serious as a felony, but a conviction can cost you plenty in fines and even cause you to spend some time in jail. Even though a misdemeanor has a maximum sentence of less than a year, any time at all in jail can wreak havoc with your life and your reputation, and you may not be able to work in certain occupations after a conviction. You’re labeled as a criminal and made to feel ashamed. A minor crime can make a major impact.

To avoid having your life turned upside down with a misdemeanor conviction, you can prevent a lot of the negative fallout by hiring a Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer to fight the charges on your behalf. In some cases a good lawyer can get you off without jail time, especially for a first offense, and may even succeed in having the charges the charges dropped altogether.

In Las Vegas, Benjamin Nadig is possibly the best choice you can make when you need a lawyer to represent you for a misdemeanor accusation. He has many years of experience in Nevada’s criminal justice system. A former Las Vegas city prosecutor, he knows the ins and outs of the system. Now, as a defense attorney in private practice, Ben puts his experience, knowledge, and passion for protecting the rights of the accused to work for individuals facing all types of criminal charges.

What Are Misdemeanors in Nevada

Nevada recognized two categories of misdemeanors:

  • Misdemeanors, with a maximum penalty of fines up to $1000 and/or up to six months in a city or county jail. Examples of typical misdemeanors include traffic tickets, solicitation of prostitution, trespass, petit larceny, and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana (first or second offense.)
  • Gross misdemeanors, which can bring a sentence of up to $2000 and/or up to a year in a county or city jail. Examples are gross lewdness or indecent exposure (first offense), false imprisonment (without a deadly weapon), stalking (second offense), possession of less than one ounce of marijuana (third offense), and unlawful use of a hotel key.

A misdemeanor trial is a bench trial, before a judge only, without a jury. A gross misdemeanor trial can be either a bench trial or a jury trial.

The Impact of a Criminal Charge

Having a criminal record of any kind, whether misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony, can have an negative effect on your finances, your ability to earn a living, your standing in the community, and on your family. But with a high caliber defense lawyer like Benjamin Nadig on your side, you can often minimize impact.

Ben will look for errors in police procedure and will challenge the validity of evidence and witness statements, as well as presenting any mitigating circumstances that might reduce or eliminate your responsibility for a misdemeanor, for example you made an improper right turn where the sign prohibiting it was obscured by branches.

Experienced Misdemeanor Defense

Benjamin Nadig defends misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors every bit as rigorously as he does felonies. He knows the effect any conviction can have on your life and will use every means available to achieve and outcome that will allow you to move forward with the least possible disturbance, financial loss, or inconvenience.

If you or someone close to you has been accused of a misdemeanor crime, contact Ben immediately to learn about your legal options. The initial consultation is free, and payment schedules are available.