702-623-6362 
A sex crime investigation can threaten your liberty, reputation, employment, relationships and future long before a court determines whether a crime occurred. Police may request an interview, examine phones or online accounts, contact people you know, or seek an arrest warrant.
An allegation is not proof, and the prosecution must establish every element of a charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
LV Criminal Defense represents people accused of sexual offenses in Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada. Attorney Nicholas M. Wooldridge can evaluate the specific allegations, the applicable Nevada or federal law, the available evidence and the immediate decisions that may affect your case. Sex crime charges are not all alike: a sexual assault allegation, a lewdness charge, and an online-image offense involve different legal elements and potential consequences.
If detectives have contacted you, a complaint has been filed, or you believe an investigation is underway, call (702) 623-6362 or request a confidential consultation.
You can speak with counsel before deciding whether to participate in a voluntary police interview.
In This Guide
A “sex crime“ is a general term; it is not the name of one particular Nevada crime. Prosecutors must cite a specific statute and demonstrate both the act and intent required by that statute. These differences are especially important when the allegation involves whether there was consent, the age of the individual, if they were in a position of authority, or if they used electronic means to communicate
Nick Wooldridge has a long track record of representing clients accused of serious federal and state crimes in Nevada.
According to NRS 200.366, sexual assault includes certain acts of sexual penetration committed against someone’s will or when the accused knew or should have known that the other person was unable to resist or understand the act. Additionally, NRS 200.366 separately addresses sexual penetration involving a child under the age of 14 (subject to its exact provisions and exceptions). Sexual assault is a Category A Felony.
See our detailed Las Vegas sexual assault defense guide.
Nevada’s defined offense of statutory sexual seduction concerns specified sexual conduct by a person at least 18 years old with someone aged 14 or 15 who is at least four years younger. The controlling definition appears in NRS 200.364, with penalties addressed by NRS 200.368. Other age-related offenses use different definitions. The age difference, exact conduct and applicable subsection must be checked; the phrase “statutory rape” does not answer those questions.
Read more about the age of consent in Nevada.
NRS 201.230 addresses specified lewd or lascivious acts. For an accused person who is 18 or older, the statute covers qualifying acts with a child younger than 16; for an accused person younger than 18, it addresses qualifying acts with a child younger than 14. The ages, alleged contact and other statutory elements affect the charge and punishment.
When I initially met with Mr. Wooldridge, he took the opportunity to sit and go over my problem with me. He described details in my case which he found disturbing and explained why he I should have him on my side.
Open or gross lewdness under NRS 201.210 and indecent or obscene exposure under NRS 201.220 are distinct offenses. They should not be treated as synonyms or automatically equated with sexual assault. The setting, conduct and prior convictions can matter.
Explore our open and gross lewdness page.
Nevada has separate laws for sexual conduct involving certain school employees, volunteers and pupils, including NRS 201.540. A pupil’s age alone does not determine whether the conduct is lawful when a position of authority is involved.
For the elements and exceptions, visit our teacher-student sexual misconduct page.
Investigations may concern unlawful images, alleged online solicitation, electronic communications or the use of a device to commit an offense. Nevada addresses child sexual abuse material in NRS 200.700–200.750, while other provisions apply to luring and related conduct. What the files depict, the person’s knowledge, how the data was obtained and the precise statute are critical.
Read about internet crimes against children and child sexual abuse material charges.
Nevada law also addresses prostitution-related offenses and sex trafficking. Legalized prostitution in certain licensed establishments elsewhere in Nevada does not make prostitution lawful in Las Vegas or Clark County. Trafficking allegations are legally and factually distinct from ordinary solicitation cases and may be prosecuted under state or federal law.
See prostitution laws in Las Vegas, sex-worker-related offenses and sex trafficking defense.
Early choices can affect which evidence is preserved and how investigators interpret what happened. Before taking action, consider these safeguards:
These are general precautions, not substitutes for advice about the particular facts, court orders or stage of your case.
There is no single “sex crime sentence.” A misdemeanor allegation can involve a very different range of penalties from a category A felony. Sentencing can depend on the exact offense, a person’s age, whether substantial bodily harm is alleged, criminal history, and any legally supported enhancement.
For example, sexual assault under NRS 200.366 is a category A felony and can carry a life sentence, with parole eligibility or the absence of parole depending on statutory circumstances. Other sexual offenses may be classified as felonies, gross misdemeanors or misdemeanors. It would be misleading to apply sexual-assault penalties to every sex crime accusation.
Beyond incarceration and fines; a conviction can have an impact on your license, job, immigration status, housing, family court proceedings, and ability to work with children. Some convictions require you to register and be supervised even after you are released from prison. When considering a plea agreement, it is important to evaluate all of these collateral consequences as well as the immediate sentence.
Registration is one of the most consequential questions in a sex crime case, but not every offense described as a sex crime automatically produces the same registration obligation. Nevada’s rules are contained in NRS Chapter 179D, which defines covered offenses, the registration process and tier classifications. Information made available to the public depends on the applicable rules.
Ordinary registration periods for sex offenders are: 15 years for Tier I; 25 years for Tier II; and life for Tier III, excluding any incarceration/confinement, pursuant to NRS 179D.490. While the statute provides for some very limited circumstances in which an individual may petition to have their registration period reduced (after meeting specific compliance and other criteria), reductions are not automatically granted. In addition, an individual’s reporting requirements may increase due to out-of-state moves, employment or school attendance.
Do not assume a reduced charge, probation, a dismissal of a different count or record sealing necessarily ends a duty to register. Counsel should examine the precise conviction statute and subsection, the applicable tier and the requirements of any other jurisdiction involved.
Consent may be central to an adult sexual assault allegation, but it is not a universal defense to every sex-related charge. Under NRS 200.366, the relevant questions may concern whether penetration occurred against the other person’s will, or whether the accused knew or should have known the person was mentally or physically incapable of resisting or understanding the conduct.
Prior intimacy, a relationship or the absence of visible injuries does not decide those questions by itself.
In some cases, such as in the case of age-based offenses, a defendant cannot use consent as a defense even if they have legally obtained it. In general, Nevada considers 16 to be the age of consent; however, there are many exceptions to this rule. Examples include statutory sexual seduction and laws regarding school employees or other individuals in positions of authority. The sexual assault statute addresses children under the age of 14 separately.
For more information about the age of consent in Nevada, please refer to the Nevada Age of Consent Guide.
An effective defense analysis will examine the relevant subsection of the statute, the alleged act, the ages and relationships of the parties involved, contemporaneous communications, witness statements and admissible evidence. A defense analysis should never assume that a verbal statement is sufficient to resolve all legal issues.
Probation is available for some sex crimes in Nevada but eligibility is based on the specific charge. A first offense does not automatically mean that probation is available. NRS 176A.100 prohibits judges from granting probation for sexual assault, attempted sexual assault of a child under 16, lewdness with a child under NRS 201.230 and several other offenses. However, other convictions may allow for judicial discretion in sentencing, subject to statutory limitations and evaluations.
Where probation is legally possible, conditions may include counseling, treatment, supervision, restrictions on contact or electronic activity and other requirements appropriate to the conviction. NRS 176A.110 contains additional assessment requirements for specified offenses, and NRS 176A.410 addresses conditions for certain sex offenders. The controlling facts and statute must be reviewed before anyone is told that probation is a realistic outcome.
Defense preparation starts by separating the allegation from what the state can actually prove. Different theories require different evidence and legal responses.
Investigators can use several different types of information to build a case, such as multiple interviews, partial messages or a timeline created after the incident occurred. Attorneys can compare the statements made by those involved, find independent witnesses, look at original documents and identify inconsistencies in the statements without assuming that a late report is false.
Message histories can provide additional information that is not available in screenshots. Metadata, device access, timestamps, account ownership and forensic collection methods can be useful. Digital evidence should be collected legally; it should never be modified or deleted.
DNA, medical records, photographs and toxicology can be helpful, but they all have limitations. Biological evidence can show contact but cannot determine whether or not there was consent; the lack of injuries or DNA does not automatically refute an allegation. Therefore, the issue is what a particular piece of evidence reliably demonstrates given the nature of the specific charge.
Attorneys can assess whether there was a mistake in identification, whether the defendant participated in the crime, whether the defendant’s age is relevant to the crime, whether evidence is admissible, whether search warrants were obtained properly, whether interviews were conducted properly, whether the chain of custody was maintained correctly and whether any required disclosures were made.
Motions to suppress or exclude evidence are based on specific legal grounds; procedural errors do not automatically result in dismissal of charges. Depending on the evidence and the defendant’s objectives, the defense may include contested hearings, negotiations or preparing for trial.
Possibly. The live page’s former suggestion of a general four-year limit for sexual assault would be incorrect. NRS 171.085 sets a general 20-year period for sexual assault, but NRS 171.082 and NRS 171.083 provide circumstances in which there is no limitation, including certain DNA identifications and qualifying written reports. NRS 171.095 addresses special rules for certain childhood abuse and sex-trafficking allegations.
Different sex-related charges have different deadlines. The alleged offense date, statutory amendments, a report, the person’s age and other facts may change the calculation. Counsel should perform a statute-specific review rather than assume that an old allegation either must be dismissed or may always be prosecuted.
When federal charges or parallel investigations are possible, the defense should consider both systems. Learn more from our federal criminal defense overview.
LV Criminal Defense works with people facing sex crime investigations and charges in Las Vegas, including Summerlin, Downtown Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip, as well as Henderson, North Las Vegas, Paradise, Spring Valley and Enterprise. The city or neighborhood does not determine the elements of an offense, and cases may be handled by different police agencies and courts depending on jurisdiction. What matters is identifying the investigating agency, the court, the actual charge and any immediate release or no-contact conditions.
Get individualized legal advice first. Even a voluntary conversation can create statements later used in a prosecution. Your lawyer can help determine how to respond without obstructing the investigation.
No. Police and prosecutors must make separate decisions about investigation, probable cause and charges. An allegation should still be taken seriously, because evidence and witness memories can change with time.
Yes. Prosecutors make most of the decisions about what charges will be brought against someone based upon evidence other than just how someone feels about their previous statements. Never attempt to contact or coerce anyone into changing their statement.
No. Registration requirements are determined by the type of offense committed and the laws that apply to that offense. Before entering into a plea agreement or receiving a sentence, an attorney should review the applicable sections of NRS 179D.
Many sex offense convictions cannot be sealed. However, there are different laws concerning dismissals and acquittals. You will need to review your case in light of NRS 179.245 and other applicable statutes to see if you are eligible to have your conviction sealed.
You can find more information about sealing your record in our Nevada Record Sealing Guide; however, please do not assume that having your record sealed means that you no longer have to register as a sex offender.
Whether you have received a call from investigators, learned about a possible warrant, or already appeared in court, the next decision should be based on the actual charge and evidence—not speculation or a promise of a particular outcome. Attorney Nicholas M. Wooldridge can review the allegations, explain the applicable legal risks and discuss a defense strategy suited to the case.
Call (702) 623-6362 or contact LV Criminal Defense to arrange a confidential consultation.
