Criminal Defense

When facing a DUI in Nevada, whether it is for alcohol or drugs, it is important to know that there are two aspects to defending it. First, there is the criminal case where you may avoid a conviction even in situations where you were arrested and have a BAC. over the legal .08 limit. Second, you must also contend with losing your Nevada driver’s license privileges. The time frame depends on many factors, including whether you submitted to a blood test or breath test voluntarily or not. It is important to speak with a criminal defense lawyer soon after you are released from custody so that you know the necessary steps to take to allow you to continue driving. In many cases your driver’s license will be revoked within 7 calendar days!

People who gamble at our local casinos can face felony criminal charges if they fail to repay their gambling markers in a timely manner. However, it is not hopeless for someone who finds themselves in this situation. There is often the possibility for us to negotiate with the casino and/or the Clark County District Attorney’s Office to allow you to make payment arrangements that would result in the criminal charges eventually being dismissed. In many cases we can also negotiate down the amount of the markers with the casino, sometimes significantly.

Innocent people often find themselves accused of Battery Domestic Violence by jealous, vindictive individuals whom they have either lived with or been in a relationship. For example, many times charges and facts are wrongfully bolstered to obtain leverage in a divorce proceeding or child custody dispute. Charges can be filed even in situations where the accused has never been contacted by law enforcement, and can be based simply on the word of another without further evidence. Sometimes, it can be months or even years before the accused finds out that they have been charged with domestic violence and have an outstanding warrant for their arrest. However, we can help you fight back!

Drug charges may range from relatively minor first time drug possession to very serious drug trafficking offenses. The punishment for a drug crime conviction can also be as varied, anywhere from a small fine with a drug class requirement, to felony probation or incarceration in the Nevada Department of Prisons. Typically, in drug cases the cleaner your criminal record and or willingness to seek rehabilitation, the better the results we are able to obtain. However, regardless of your criminal record or the charges you are facing, you are entitled to aggressive legal representation! The key to a strong defense in any drug case is the investigation and careful review of all aspects of the case, particularly, your initial contact with law enforcement.

The Law Offices of Shimer Zach has a combined total of over 20 years experience in the area of criminal defense. We are available to answer questions and can assist you with any of the following types of drug charges:

• Misdemeanor drug possession
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of controlled Substance
• Drug trafficking/Sales

It is now legal in Nevada for adults age twenty-one (21) and over to possess up to one (1) ounce of marijuana. However, the consequences in other areas of the law, such as misdemeanor DUI, have not caught up just yet to the new law. In fact, if you have marijuana or its metabolites in your system, you can still be convicted of a DUI at this time. Smoking marijuana in public and or selling marijuana are also still against the law and punishable with extensive fines and incarceration. Except for simple marijuana possession, all other drug charges are removable offense for non-citizens. For comprehensive information regarding your legal rights, contact our office for a fee consultation.

Nevada law defines reckless driving as: (1) driving a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property; (2) driving a vehicle in an unauthorized speed contest on a public highway; or (3) organizing an unauthorized speed contest on a public highway. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor criminal matter that carries a fine of $250 to $1000 as well as eight (8) demerit points on your Nevada Driver’s License (only 12 per year are allowed). You can even be arrested and taken to jail if law enforcement so wishes. In the vast majority of reckless driving cases we handle, our firm is able to reduce the demerit points to 1 or 2. There is also the possibility the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles will allow you to complete traffic school in order to fully erase the 1 or 2 points left on your record. No matter what reduction our firm is able to negotiate, your insurance rates will not increase nearly as much compared to having an 8-point violation on your record! In fact, some insurance companies will drop their insured client if a reckless driving conviction enters against them. It is extremely beneficial to contact a lawyer when facing such a serious traffic ticket.

Nevada law is very specific on what steps you have to take when you are involved in a car accident, whether it involved property damage or personal injuries. You will need to provide your name, address, vehicle registration, insurance, and driver’s license. Leaving the scene of an accident that results in only property damage is a misdemeanor. Many times, law enforcement will attempt to make contact with you by leaving an informational card at your residence and/or mailing you a letter. If you fail to contact the officer a warrant and/or arrest may be forthcoming.

If the incident involved injuries, the situation can be very serious and although law enforcement’s process is the same, they are likely to be much more aggressive in their pursuit of you. It is important that you contact an attorney, right away, prior to speaking with law enforcement so that we can help to first determine the extent of the injures to the other party. In situations such as this, remember your favorite cop show! You have the right to remain silent, use it, and call us immediately.

It sometimes can be very difficult to navigate the bond process when either you or a loved one is suddenly arrested. Do you post bail, or not, and in situations when you cannot afford the current bail, can it be reduced by the court? Sometimes, the question can be as simple as who should I hire to post the bond, but in the more serious cases where the bail amount is significant, posting the bond can be a very complex process. We can help you with the entire process. Should the bail be financially excessive an attorney can motion the court to decrease or eliminate the need to post any bail (based upon the facts and circumstances of the defendant and the particulars of the crime).