Las Vegas Theft of Services Lawyer

Someone who has a service provided and doesn’t pay the required compensation may be charged with theft of services in Nevada. Theft of services charges is a serious criminal offense. A conviction will likely result in incarceration, fines, and an order to pay restitution. To protect your freedom and rights, you need an experienced theft of services lawyer to defend you.

The Nevada criminal defense lawyers of Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law, have been practicing in the criminal justice system for years. We are hard-nosed Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys who care about you and the outcome of your case. We’ll take the time to work with you to build your case, answer your questions, and ensure you know what to expect at each stage of the process.

If you have been charged with theft of services in Nevada, don’t delay getting the legal advice and representation you need. Instead, turn to the legal team at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law, today for a free initial case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you and fight for the best possible outcome to your charges.

What Is Theft of Services Under Nevada Law?

Theft of services occurs when someone uses or gets something from the service without providing the proper compensation. For example, theft of services may occur when a person uses force, the threat of force, deceit, fraud, or another criminal act to get services without paying for them.

However, theft of services can also occur when a person accepts a service and intentionally doesn’t pay, even when the service provider demands payment. Theft of services may also involve rerouting services paid for by someone else and then using them without compensating the service provider or the customer who paid for the service.

Examples of Theft of Services

Examples of conduct that may result in a theft charge in Nevada include the following:

• Diverting television or internet services
• Not paying for utilities such as internet or electricity
• Adjusting utility meters to avoid paying bills
• Fare hopping on public transit, buses, or trains
• Refusing to pay medical bills
• Not paying contractors, including home renovators, landscapers, or auto mechanics
• Eating at a bar or restaurant without paying
• Staying at a hotel and leaving without paying
• Using someone else’s debit or credit card to pay for services without permission or reimbursement
• Writing a check to pay for services knowing that the check will bounce

What Are the Penalties for Theft of Services Charges?

In Nevada, the penalties for a conviction for theft of services will depend on the value of the services that have been stolen. Theft charges may be considered a misdemeanor or a felony. Depending on the charges, theft of services law in Nevada note you may face the following penalties:

Misdemeanor – Theft of services is a misdemeanor charge when the value of services stolen is less than $1,200. A conviction for misdemeanor theft of services carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Category D felony – Category D felony theft of services is charged when the services are valued at $1,200 or more but less than $5,000. The charge carries a sentence of one to four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Category C felony – Theft of services is charged as a Category C felony when the value of services is $5,000 or more but less than $25,000. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of one to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.

Category B felony – Category B felony theft of services is charged when the value of services is $25,000 or more. A conviction has a penalty of one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 when the value of services is less than $100,000. If the value of services is $100,000 or more, penalties are one to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

In addition to penalties of jail or prison time and fines, a conviction for theft of services may also result in an offender having to pay restitution to the victims of the crime. Restitution will compensate the victims for the value of services they provided the offender that wasn’t paid for.

Common Defenses Against Theft of Services Charges

Someone charged with theft of services may have factual or legal defenses available to them in their case.

Common defenses against theft of service charges include the following:

Lack of criminal intent – A defendant may argue that they didn’t have the required criminal intent to commit theft of services. This defense may be based on the defendant’s claim of making a mistake. For example, they may have thought they had paid for the services or that the service provider intended to provide them for free. However, this defense may fail if a defendant ignores demands for payment, such as not opening bills received in the mail.

Services were paid for – A defendant can argue against a charge for theft of services by proving that they did pay for the service. For example, a defendant may provide copies of credit card or bank statements, tendered checks, or payment receipts to show that they provided the required compensation to the service provider.

Coercion or duress – A defendant might also defend themselves against a charge of theft of services by showing that they were forced to commit the offense under threat of physical, financial, or reputational harm.

Good faith dispute over the payment – A defendant might seek to dismiss theft of service charges by showing that they were engaged in a good faith dispute over the payment to the service provider. For example, a defendant may dispute an invoice amount submitted by a contractor because they believed the contractor overcharged them. In that situation, the proper legal recourse would be in a contract action in civil court.

Charged With Theft of Services? Contact a Nevada Criminal Defense Attorney Now

When you have been charged with theft of services, you need to act quickly to defend your rights and interests. Contact Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law in Vegas, today for a confidential consultation. Speak to one of our experienced Nevada criminal defense attorneys about your legal options for facing your charges.