Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What is a Wobbler in Criminal Law?
If you are facing criminal charges, having an experienced attorney on your side can be very important. One reason is that criminal law has many intricacies, one of which is the wobbler. While the term may sound silly and unserious, the fact is that wobblers are very important in the criminal justice system. Effectively… Read More »
Larceny in Nevada
If you’ve been charged with the crime of larceny, law enforcement believes you are behind the thefts of property like bicycles, motor vehicles, or other items that have been carried away unlawfully. Depending on the value of the items you’ve been accused of taking, prior convictions, and the strength of the prosecution’s case, a… Read More »
Illegal Gambling in Vegas
Back in the day, counting cards could get you beat up by mobsters who weren’t too fond of losing out on profits as a result of your shenanigans. And while you may have seen a movie or two that made you think you’d be cuffed and dragged by police out of a blackjack pit,… Read More »
Will You Get a Speedy Trial in Nevada?
The right to a speedy trial: it’s promised by the Sixth Amendment . All the same, there are countless people stuck behind bars awaiting trial in this country. Why are over 30,000 people– two-thirds of whom simply cannot afford bail— stuck in Nevada county jails on any given day of the year, even though… Read More »
Police Use of Spit Hoods/Masks
Spit hoods: they are used by police departments across the country, including here in Nevada, to protect officers from being spit on or bitten. It makes sense that police wish to evade saliva projectiles—but there are concerns about the safety of these hoods. What do Studies Say? There is a body of research indicating… Read More »
Charged With Hazing?
School hazing: it occurs in high schools and colleges across the country, despite widespread publicity outlining the dangers associated with it and laws on the books penalizing those who perpetuate it. Here in Nevada, we’ve seen our fair share of hazing resulting in horrendous outcomes: A high school baseball player in Galena who’d been… Read More »
Understanding Bond and Bail
When awaiting trial, there are several options that can keep you out of jail. In some cases you may be able to post bail to get out of jail; if you’re lucky, you can avoid jail altogether with a bond payment. Without question, those who are arrested and manage to take advantage of bail… Read More »
Are You at Risk of Having a Judge Issue a Gag Order?
If you’ve been following the national news at all, you may be familiar with the attention Donald Trump has been drawing when it comes to gag orders related to various trials. Such orders are often headline-grabbing in high profile trials—but what about average people who find themselves facing a criminal trial? Are gag orders… Read More »
Health Care Fraud
Health care fraud is serious business with serious consequences. As the most expensive white-collar crime in the country—racking up nearly $100 billion in lost funds involving private insurers and another $100 billion in Medicaid and Medicare–the state of Nevada does not look kindly on this type of fraud. Both state and federal prosecutors are… Read More »
Surprise! Fingerprints aren’t Unique After All
The results are in, and plenty of scientists and forensic experts are taken aback: the universally accepted conclusion that we all have a unique set of fingerprints has been debunked—or has it? The Old Science For literally hundreds of years forensic analysts have focused on the endpoints and branching in the ridges of fingerprints—called… Read More »
