Criminal Defense Attorneys in Paradise, NV

If you have been arrested on criminal charges in Paradise, Nevada, your first call should be to the criminal defense attorneys of Adras & Altig. The tough-minded criminal defense lawyers of Adras & Altig can respond promptly and be present before you agree to be questioned by police.

Paradise is an unincorporated area of Clark County that includes most of the Las Vegas Strip and most popular tourist attractions outside of downtown, as well as McCarran International Airport and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). You could be arrested in Paradise and not even realize your location if you’re not a local, but if you’re taken to be booked, you’ll be headed to downtown Las Vegas.

While under arrest, you should decline to answer questions from police until your attorney is present to protect your rights. Either Paul Adras or Steven Altig, who handle all of the firm’s criminal defense cases, will come to your aid. Our attorneys have more than a decade of experience as legal advocates for people facing criminal charges in Paradise and throughout Clark County. They work diligently to ensure that clients facing criminal charges experience the least disruption possible in their lives.

Our Criminal Defense Practice Areas

You need the kind of experienced help Adras & Altig can deliver if you face charges under Nevada’s criminal justice system. Without compelling evidence to do otherwise, prosecutors are legally obligated to seek convictions in each case brought to them by police.

Paul Adras and Steven Altig are respected and reputable defense attorneys in Clark County who know the local court system. Their professional relationships with district attorneys in the Clark County court system ensure that their proposals receive fair consideration when they suggest reduced charges and alternatives to fines and jail times.

A criminal defense attorney at Adras & Altig can help you navigate the Nevada criminal justice system by developing a legal strategy tailored to your specific situation. If you are eligible and it is the proper approach for you, we can seek to have your case diverted to allow you to attend a treatment program. We are here to help you, not to judge you.

If our law firm represents you, Adras & Altig will investigate the charges against you and gather evidence to rebut the charges against you. If we cannot get charges dismissed or downgraded for an acceptable plea bargain, we will develop a solid and persuasive defense on your behalf and seek justice in court.

We accept cases involving:

If you already have a criminal conviction on your record in Nevada, Adras & Altig can do the legwork necessary to seal your records from public view if you are eligible. This is a right that you can exercise after a certain number of years if your record has been clean since your original arrest or conviction.

Sealed criminal records are not available to background checks conducted by employers, banks and others. Nevada law allows you to legally say that you have never been convicted of a crime if your records have been sealed.

What to Do If You Are Arrested in Paradise

Most people are frightened and confused when arrested, regardless of what has happened prior to being taken into custody. But it is important to cooperate with the police while exercising your right to remain silent when under arrest. You will almost certainly make matters worse if you try to explain to police why you should not be facing criminal charges.

If you answer questions or provide a statement for the police, your words may be used against you in court by prosecutors seeking a conviction. After you have been arrested or told you will be charged with a criminal offense, you should tell the police you would like to have your attorney present before answering their questions. Then, you should contact a lawyer as soon as you are allowed to do so.

If you are charged with a minor offense, you may be issued a citation with a date for you to appear in court. For other charges, you will be arrested and taken into custody.

Paradise is patrolled by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s South Central Area Command. If arrested by LVMPD in Paradise and held, you will be taken before a magistrate at:

Clark County Detention Center
330 S Casino Center Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Being “booked” includes taking your fingerprints and photo. A magistrate will set bail for your release from custody. The more serious the charge, the higher the bail. Bail may also be higher if you are from out of state to make it more likely you will return for court.

After you have been booked, you may post bail if you have it on you. They take cash and credit cards, as well as money orders, cashier’s checks and attorney trust account checks, but not personal checks. Otherwise, a family member, friend or another representative may post bail with their money or by paying a bail bonds agency.

Your first opportunity to make a phone call is likely to be after you have been booked. You should contact the Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys of Adras & Altig.

Criminal Courts for Paradise, Nevada

Many people who come to Nevada to visit Las Vegas never get any closer to Vegas than Paradise. You could fly into McCarran International Airport, catch a shuttle to a hotel on The Strip, visit all the casinos, restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues and attractions you want, including the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, and then go back to the airport without ever leaving Paradise.

But you’ll see the real Las Vegas if you’re arrested and have to go to court here.

The Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County has jurisdiction over all municipalities and unincorporated communities in Clark County, including Paradise. It handles more than 90,000 criminal and civil cases each year. The Eighth Judicial District’s 52 judges preside over 32 civil/criminal judicial “departments,” or courts, and 20 family/juvenile judicial departments at three locations in Las Vegas:

Regional Justice Center
200 Lewis Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89155

Phoenix Building
330 S. 3rd Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Family Court House
601 North Pecos Road
Las Vegas, NV 89155

The Eighth Judicial District Court also operates nine Specialty Court programs focusing on providing assistance to non-violent offenders with substance abuse or mental health issues instead of just handing down punishment. These special court programs include:

If you are charged as a nonviolent offender with no history of violent offenses or drug trafficking but do have a problem with alcohol, illicit drugs or a diagnosed serious mental illness, you may qualify for adjudication in a specialty court.

Each Specialty Court program has its own eligibility rules but focuses on providing treatment, life skills training and educational advancement over the course of several months or years to help you get your life back on track.

Those who enter Specialty Court programs may have charges removed from their records once they complete requirements that include:

Contact Our Paradise, Nevada Criminal Defense Attorneys

The criminal defense attorneys at Adras & Altig have a thorough understanding of Nevada criminal law and the criminal justice system and are well known and respected in Clark County courts. Paul Adras and Steven Altig work as a team and focus on achieving the best legal outcome possible for each client.

We know there’s more than one side to the story in every criminal matter. But without an attorney to tell your side, prosecutors will only hear the police version of what occurred. Our defense attorneys will investigate your case and make sure your version of events is heard. We’ll also work to identify the weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case and, when we are able, negotiate full dismissal of your case, a reduction in the charges or entry into a diversion program to obtain the assistance you can benefit from.

We firmly believe that every client deserves a robust and compassionate defense, and we approach each case with an open mind. Contact us as soon as possible by phone or through our online contact form to set up a free and confidential consultation with Adras & Altig.