Two women, ages eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21), have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Las Vegas cab driver. According to a recent article in the Las Vegas Review Journal, the two women were trying to skip out on the cab fare and the cab driver was shot in the ensuing scuffle.
Robbery is the taking of personal property of another by force or fear. This is a serious offense and is punishable by between two (2) and fifteen (15) years in prison. When someone uses a firearm or deadly weapon in a robbery, they can get sentenced to an additional one (1) to (15) years in prison to be served after the original sentence, just for the use of the firearm. "Using" a firearm does not mean that the firearm has to be fired or even pointed at someone. Just displaying a firearm during the commission of a crime can be charged as "use" of a firearm.
Murder charges can be brought when someone intentionally kills another person, but can also be charged when a person is unintentionally killed in the course of committing a felony (such as Robbery). This is called the "Felony-Murder Rule," or just "felony-murder" for short. Felony-murder is considered first-degree murder, which is punishable by:
- A term of twenty (20) to fifty (50) years in prison
- life in prison with the possibility of parole after twenty (20) years
- life in prison without the possibility of parole, or
- death by lethal injection, if aggravating circumstances exist
Just like with Robbery, additional terms of prison will apply if a person is convicted of using a deadly weapon in the course of the Murder.
When two are more people are charged with committing the same offense, they are often times charged with Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, in addition to the original charge. A conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime. Most conspiracy charges are gross misdemeanors, punishable by up to one (1) year in county jail. However, conspiracy to commit robbery and/or murder is a felony and may be punished by up to six (6) years in state prison for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery or up to ten (10) years for Conspiracy to Commit Murder.
These women have not yet been convicted and are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury at trial. There are numerous defenses that may exist which could cause the charges to be reduced or dismissed. If you or someone you know is charged with these types of serious offenses, it is imperative that you consult with a knowledgeable and experienced criminal law attorney right away to explore possible defenses.