Assault with a deadly weapon is a serious crime in Nevada. Being found guilty of using a gun or deadly weapon of any kind during a crime can add 20 years to a prison sentence.
If you are facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, an experienced criminal defense attorney can exhaustively analyze your case to develop a compelling legal defense on your behalf. Our attorneys are ready to work relentlessly to reduce your sentence or get your charges dropped altogether.
There are several potential defenses that can be used to get an assault with a deadly weapon charge dropped. Your defense will depend on the unique circumstances of your case. You should contact a lawyer immediately to get started. An experienced criminal defense attorney from Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law can help you. Contact us now for a free case evaluation.
Prosecutors decide whether or not to pursue charges against an individual charged with a crime. If your attorney can provide comprehensive evidence in your case, the prosecutor may decide that it’s unlikely a jury would find you guilty and drop the charges against you altogether. A plea bargain to a lesser charge may be an option as well. Even if the prosecutor does decide to take your case to trial, a solid defense could improve your chances of being acquitted. The following are defenses used in “assault with a deadly weapon” cases.
Self-Defense
Self-defense is one of the most commonly used defenses against assault with a deadly weapon charges. When arguing self-defense, you must convince the prosecutor or court that you committed the act in order to protect yourself from the immediate danger of suffering injury or harm. You also must prove that the force you used was a reasonable response to the threat of danger.
When arguing self-defense, evidence such as photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts of the incident can be very helpful. Other helpful evidence could include threats of violence made against you, a history of domestic violence, and expert witness testimony.
Alibi
A solid alibi is a highly effective defense against an assault with a deadly weapon charge. You can’t be in two places at once. Evidence that you were in a different location at the time of the incident could result in a prosecutor dropping charges. Evidence often includes photos or videos showing you in a different location, cell phone location records, and witness testimony.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Police are subject to highly specific rules and regulations regarding how and when they can search individuals and seize their belongings. If you can successfully argue that evidence against you was obtained illegally, it is highly likely that charges against you will be dropped.
Any evidence obtained illegally becomes “fruit of the poisonous tree” — the method by which the evidence obtained was tainted, meaning the evidence becomes tainted as well, and inadmissible in court.
The defenses mentioned above are only a few strategies that defense attorneys often employ in an “assault with a deadly weapon” case.
There are many other potential defenses, including for example:
- Mistaken identity
- False witness testimony
- Faulty or fabricated evidence
- Faulty forensic testing methods
- Police misconduct
- Bias
Turn to the Defense Team at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law for Help
An experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorney from Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law is prepared to carefully analyze your case to determine your best legal strategy. We are a team of highly experienced, hardworking defense attorneys who really care about our clients, not just the bottom line.
Call us or contact us online today for your free case evaluation.
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At Adras & Altig, we believe that every client we work with deserves a fresh start. Our dedicated Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys take the time to get to know you so we can understand the circumstances surrounding your arrest.