Unlawful Use of $250 or Less in Public Money

Nevada Defense Lawyer Explains Unlawful Use of Public Money

Those who are entrusted with public money have a responsibility to ensure that they use the money only in accordance with their official duties. Taxpayers have the right to be confident that public funds are used for authorized purposes, so the laws are very strict in prohibiting any misuse both of public dollars and public property.

In fact, there is an entire chapter of Nevada’s Penal Code which criminalizes offenses against the revenue and property of the state of Nevada. This chapter, Chapter 204, contains several different statutes addressing different kinds of crime and misappropriation and imposing harsh penalties for defendants who violate the rules.

If you are accused of violating any of the provisions of Chapter 204 and behaving in an inappropriate way with public funds, the mere accusation alone could hinder your career opportunities in profound ways. And, depending upon the value of the alleged stolen assets and the nature of the crime you have been accused of committing, you could also face misdemeanor charges or felony criminal charges that could lead to jail time, among other penalties.

You cannot afford to take these charges lightly, given the severity of the possible penalties imposed and the impact on your reputation and permanent record. You should contact LV Criminal Defense today to find out about the ways in which our legal team can provide invaluable help to you as you respond to charges.

Our Vegas defense attorneys know the laws in Chapter 204 inside and out and we can put our legal knowledge to work to help you get the best possible outcome under your particular circumstances. Give us a call today to find out more about the help we can offer.

Nevada Revised Statute Section 204.010 Unlawful Use of Less Than $250 in Public Money

One of the key Nevada laws that prohibits the unlawful use of public money is found in the Nevada Revised Statute section 204.010. This law specifically relates to situations where an amount of less than $250 has been misappropriated.

According to the relevant law, every public officer; every person who has public money in his or her possession, custody or control; or any person who public money is entrusted to for safe transport or for safekeeping is expected to abide by the rules and not misappropriate the funds. Public money includes money belonging to the state, to countries, to towns, to cities, to districts, and to any municipal corporation within Nevada.

If any individual is entrusted with public money and uses the money for his or her own private purposes, or uses the money for any purpose other than one authorized by law, that individual is in violation of N.R.S. 204.010 if the amount of money in question is less than $250.

Violating N.R.S. 204.010 is a misdemeanor criminal offense. If the amount of money in question is $250 or more, the same prohibition against using the public money for private purposes exists, but it is criminalized by N.R.S. 204.020 and it is considered to be a felony offense instead of just a misdemeanor crime.