Harboring a Fugitive in Nevada

Have you been charged with harboring a fugitive?  If so, you could be facing serious state and/or federal penalties, including years behind bars and significant fines.  Regardless of the circumstances, it is critical that an experienced criminal defense attorney work with you to reduce the potential consequences associated with the charges.

What Constitutes Harboring a Fugitive? 

A person who knowingly conceals or harbors someone who has been issued an arrest warrant or who has escaped from law enforcement and is fleeing the court’s jurisdiction could be charged with harboring a fugitive, particularly if the concealment is done in order to mitigate that person’s apprehension by law enforcement. The legal action that is expected when encountering a known fugitive is to withhold financial assistance, shelter, or aid, and contact authorities right away. From a legal standpoint, it behooves you to get advice of counsel prior to becoming involved in discussions with law enforcement if you find yourself in a position where harboring a fugitive is a possibility.

A Moral & Ethical Dilemma

 In some cases, choosing the correct course of action may be a huge moral or ethical dilemma for some people.  For instance, if the fugitive is a family member, one might be reluctant to turn them away. Likewise, if the fugitive happened to be a sympathetic figure, one might be tempted to offer assistance. Nonetheless, the law regards those who choose personal motives over legal requirements in these situations as criminals themselves.

What Could Lead to Trouble for You 

The law is clear: you must know—or reasonably should know– that the person you are helping is a fugitive in order to be guilty of harboring a fugitive. If a prosecutor is convinced that you did, indeed, know the status of the fugitive, you will likely be charged based on your actions.  You could face legal problems for any help you provide, including simply giving advice on where to hide, how to avoid authorities, or where to access resources to aid in escaping detection. Obviously, actively sheltering a fugitive, attempting to throw authorities off track, or otherwise sabotaging the investigation will likely lead to charges against you. And to be clear, the seriousness of the charges against the fugitive will impact the seriousness of the charges against you. Someone who’s hiding from authorities based on numerous traffic tickets is going to be less of a problem than someone who’s been charged with domestic violence, rape, or murder, for instance.  Nonetheless, the legal expectation to notify authorities remains clear regardless of the charges the fugitive is evading.

Defending You 

The dedicated Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law are committed to fighting for the best possible outcomes for you.  To discuss your charges and potential defense, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.

Source:

law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1071