Across the nation, we are seeing the rise of “sober bars.” These places serve a variety of drinks. They feature special coffee concoctions, but they also have kava and kratom teas on tap. For the moment, all of these drinks are legal, and as far as we know, they are non-addictive. However, they are both mood and mind altering. Kava has a sedative effect on most consumers, and many forms of kratom ...
When we think of burglars, we might imagine a cartoon image we saw as children. A man in a striped shirt, beret, and domino mask sneaks into a home, stuffing valuables into a bag. The cultural impact of this image cannot be understated. It directly connects “burglary” to “theft,” and “burglars” are always “thieves.” Legally, this assumption is completely false. Burglary does not necessarily ...
Many states still have laws regarding public intoxication. Nevada is not one of these states. In fact, the state has a reputation for being quite liberal about alcohol. Standard grocery stores can sell liquor, and there are no time restrictions for dedicated liquor stores. They can be open 24/7. Nevada even allows its citizens to openly drink in public, which many other states do not. With all ...
Our justice system is based on “reasonable doubt.” A jury must be 100% certain of someone’s guilt before convicting them. This is a high bar, designed to give citizens the best chance against bias and corruption. Even the most reasonable people, however, can be swayed in a criminal trial. Defendants are often convicted of crimes they did not commit. The system understands this possibility, and it ...
What Is Money Laundering? When money is gained through illegal means, that money is, itself, illegal. People involved in criminal enterprises must find a way to make the money appear legitimate. It needs to be “cleaned.” This is where money laundering comes in. Normally, illegal money is pumped through a business. That business’s bookkeepers make it look like the business is profitable. This ...
Your right to remain silent is one of the most important aspects of our justice system. It keeps you from implicating yourself in an accusation, and the police can’t use your words against you. They will do just that, and they warn you upfront. Part of your Miranda warning states that “anything you say can and will be used against you.” Your right to remain silent extends to traffic stops. When ...
Theft takes many forms. It can be direct, such as in a robbery or purse-snatching, and it can also be more discreet. Whit-collar theft takes place in transactions. It too can be more direct, like stealing money directly from someone’s bank account. One form of white-collar crime, however, is more subtle. It is often harder to detect, and offenders can sometimes get away with the crime for years. ...
Burglary is often associated with theft. People say they have been “burglarized” when someone breaks into their house and steals their belongings. If that happens, that is certainly an example of burglary, but the crime has a broader definition. By law, burglary is the act of illegally entering a location to commit a crime. The location could be a business, not just a home, and the crime could be ...
Last month , we discussed some effective defenses you can use against a drug possession charge. Now we want to explain why it’s important to have a good defense. Nevada takes drug crimes quite seriously. There are many different types of possession allegations, each having stiff penalties. In this article, we will take a broad look at Nevada’s charges and punishments for drug possession. Drug ...
In last month’s shoplifting article , we discussed effective defenses against the crime. Now, we want to explore what might happen if you don’t fight these charges in court. Nevada takes shoplifting charges seriously. At the low end, the crime is a misdemeanor. On the opposite extreme, it can be charged as a felony. Before, going forward, let’s discuss the differences between these two criminal ...
If you’ve been accused of drug possession, don’t panic. It’s easy to assume that there is no escape from this accusation. The authorities would have you believe that they found you with an illicit substance, and there’s no way you can win your case. This simply isn’t true. Drug possession isn’t a cut-and-dry accusation. It’s often based on assumption. Remember, guilty verdicts are based on a lack ...
When you’ve been accused of shoplifting, the outlook can appear bleak. The authorities say they’ve caught you red-handed, so there’s no use in arguing against the charge. Don’t believe them. This is a trick. It’s an attempt to move the case along quickly. They want to secure a guilty verdict and move on. You can fight any charge in court. This is your right. The prosecution has a responsibility to ...
The use of kava tea is becoming increasingly popular across the nation. In Reno, it’s easy to find a kava spot to sit and relax. Kava is a sedative tea, and it is often served in a bar setting. People sometimes refer to these spots as “sober bars,” but that label isn’t quite accurate. Kava has a numbing effect on both the mind and the body. Thus far, the law has mostly stayed away from regulating ...
The words “assault” and “battery” are often used in the same breath to describe the same charge. People even tend to interchange the words, unconcerned about whether doing so causes any confusion. In many ways, it’s okay to swap the terms. At the crimes’ most basic levels, they are usually charged and penalized identically. There is, however, a legal difference between assault and battery. In this ...
In our last blog , we discussed involuntary manslaughter, defining the term and offering defenses against the crime. We also discussed how easy it is to get confused by the very idea of manslaughter. The crime is much more than simply killing someone by accident. It involves willful, negligent behavior that results in someone’s death The legal words that differentiate the different types of ...