Las Vegas Metro Cop Indicted on Casino Robbery Charges

Las Vegas police officer, Caleb Mitchell Rogers, was indicted this week on federal charges after he allegedly stole $164,000 from three Las Vegas casinos. Rogers, 33, became a Las Vegas police officer in 2015, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He is currently suspended from the department without pay.

Rogers was arrested in February after allegedly stealing nearly $79,000 from a Rio hotel-casino sportsbook cashier before threatening to shoot the security officer who chased him down. Rogers is also accused of committing robberies at Red Rock Resort and Aliante Casino. Prosecutors allege that the gun Rogers used during the robberies belonged to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Rogers’ trial is scheduled for May 23.

How is Robbery Defined in Nevada?

NRS 200.380 defines robbery as the unlawful taking of personal property from the person of another, or in the person’s presence, against his or her will.

The statute further explains that this taking of personal property must be by means of force or violence or fear of injury, immediate or future, to his or her person, or the person of a member of his or her family, or of anyone in his or her company at the time of the robbery.

1. A taking is by means of force or fear if force or fear is used to:
2. Obtain or retain possession of the property.
3. Prevent or overcome resistance to the taking; or
4. Facilitate escape.

What are possible defenses to robbery charges?

LV Criminal Defense’s highly trained and experienced attorneys are capable of vigorously defending against accusations of robbery. Defenses to robbery include arguments that:

• The defendant did not actually obtain or retain possession of the property in question.
• The defendant did not use force or violence or fear of injury.
• The defendant was wrongly identified or mistaken for someone else.

What are the possible penalties for robbery?

Robbery is a category B felony and is punished by imprisonment in a state facility for a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 15 years.

The penalties for robbery become more severe in certain conditions, including when a firearm or other deadly weapon is used during the robbery. In addition to the 2-to-15-year imprisonment prescribed by the Nevada Revised Statute for robbery, an individual will face an additional 1-to-20-year imprisonment term under NRS 193.165 for using a firearm or other deadly weapon during the commission of the robbery.

Additionally, the statute explains that anyone convicted of using a firearm or other deadly weapon during a robbery shall not be eligible for probation or a suspended sentence.

Possible outcome for Officer Caleb Mitchell Rogers

Considering the robbery laws in Nevada, officer Rogers might be limited in his possible defense, since Las Vegas casinos are equipped with extensive video surveillance capabilities. If there is indisputable video evidence of Rogers committing the robberies he is accused of, his legal team might aim to lower the charges by arguing that Rogers did not use force or violence or fear of injury.

However, the allegations that Rogers used a firearm to threaten a security officer who chased him down might complicated this defense and could elevate his potential punishment given the penalties under NRS 193.165.