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Grand Larceny

Grand larceny in Nevada is any theft of property worth $1,200 or more. It's a felony — and the higher the alleged value, the more serious the charge. The penalty range runs from a Category D felony at the low end to a Category B felony carrying up to 20 years in prison when the value exceeds $100,000. Value is almost always worth contesting.

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NRS 205.220Nevada · Category D to Category B Felony — value-based

Grand Larceny

Grand larceny in Nevada is the intentional taking of property worth $1,200 or more belonging to another person. The charge level escalates based on the value of the property — from Category D felony at the low end to Category B felony for amounts over $100,000. Vehicle theft is separately charged as a Category C felony or higher.

Statute

Grand larceny (NRS 205.220); vehicle theft (NRS 205.228)

$1,200–$5,000

Category D Felony — 1 to 4 years

Over $100,000

Category B Felony — up to 20 years

Defense focus

Fair market valuation, intent, claim of right, identification, suppression

Key statutory language (abridged)

NRS 205.220 defines grand larceny as intentionally stealing, taking, or leading away personal property worth $1,200 or more owned by another person. Also covers ATM/financial account fraud and theft of livestock. Penalties are tiered: $1,200–$5,000 = Category D; $5,000–$25,000 = Category C; $25,000–$100,000 = Category B (1–10 years); over $100,000 = Category B (1–20 years). Vehicle theft (NRS 205.228) is…

Nevada Legislature statute Petit larceny Theft Burglary

How charges typically arise

Example fact patterns

Examples of factual situations prosecutors commonly rely on when filing charges. These are simplified summaries, details matter.

Grand larcenyHow grand larceny charges typically arise

Retail theft of higher-value merchandise

When the alleged value of merchandise taken from a store meets or exceeds $1,200, the charge moves from misdemeanor petit larceny to felony grand larceny. Electronics, jewelry, tools, and clothing are common subjects. The store's claimed retail price isn't necessarily the legal valuation — fair market value controls.

Vehicle theft

Grand larceny of a vehicle is its own provision under Nevada law and is automatically a felony regardless of the vehicle's value. Car theft, truck theft, and theft of other motor vehicles are charged under NRS 205.228 and carry Category C felony penalties.

Employer and workplace theft

Taking money or property from an employer — skimming cash, misappropriating inventory, embezzling from accounts — is commonly charged as grand larceny when the accumulated value meets the felony threshold. These cases often involve forensic accounting and business records.

ATM and financial account fraud

Using someone else's card or banking credentials to withdraw or transfer money is specifically addressed in NRS 205.220. The charge level depends on the total amount obtained.

How to read this

These are common charging narratives, not determinations of guilt. Real cases turn on evidence quality, context, and credibility.

Defense playbook

Examples of defenses

Short, plain-English examples of defenses we look for. The right defense depends on the facts, the evidence, and how the case was built.

Grand larcenyDefense angles in grand larceny cases

Challenging the valuation

Fair market value — not retail price, not replacement cost, not sentimental value — is what determines charge level. In cases near a threshold, this is often the most important fight. A $1,300 felony based on retail price for used or discounted merchandise may not survive a proper valuation challenge. The difference can be a felony conviction versus a misdemeanor.

No criminal intent

Grand larceny requires intentional taking. Mistakes, misunderstandings, permission that was given informally, or a genuine belief you had a right to the property can all negate the intent element. Intent is harder for the prosecution to prove than it appears.

Claim of right or ownership

If you genuinely believed the property was yours — a business dispute, a debt owed, a co-ownership situation — that belief, even if wrong, can be a defense to theft. Nevada courts recognize that theft requires a knowing taking of another's property.

Mistaken identity

Surveillance footage isn't always conclusive, witness identifications aren't always reliable, and circumstantial evidence connecting someone to a theft isn't always tight. If the state can't prove it was actually you, the case fails regardless of whether theft occurred.

How to use this

These are common defense themes, not legal advice for your case. The value is in comparing the allegations to the evidence and spotting what is missing, unclear, or contradicted.

Penalties overview

Potential penalties

A simplified overview of common penalty ranges. The real exposure depends on charge level, priors, enhancements, and how the case is filed.

Grand larcenyHow value drives the charge

$1,200 to $5,000

Category D Felony

1 to 4 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000.

$5,000 to $25,000

Category C Felony

1 to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

$25,000 to $100,000

Category B Felony

1 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Over $100,000

Category B Felony — enhanced

1 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000.

Grand larceny of a vehicle

Category C Felony (minimum)

Vehicle theft is separately charged under NRS 205.228 as a Category C felony or higher regardless of the vehicle's value.

Restitution

Almost always ordered

Courts typically order restitution requiring repayment of the property's value in addition to any other sentence.

Important

Penalties can shift based on priors, alleged injury, and how the case is filed. A reliable range requires the exact charge, the complaint, and criminal history.

Why the $1,200 threshold matters — and why it's not always final

The line between a misdemeanor and a felony in Nevada theft cases is $1,200. Below that is petit larceny — a misdemeanor. At or above $1,200 is grand larceny — a felony.

That threshold is based on fair market value, not retail price, not what the victim says they paid for it, and not the replacement cost of a new item. Fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller for that item in its actual condition.

In borderline cases, the defense can and should contest valuation. A retail theft of electronics priced at $1,350 but available used for $900 may not meet the felony threshold. Fighting that distinction is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony conviction on your record.

Getting a grand larceny case reduced or dismissed

Grand larceny cases can be reduced — sometimes significantly. A Category B felony reduced to a Category D, or a felony reduced to a misdemeanor petit larceny, represents an enormous difference in sentencing exposure and long-term consequences.

Reduction is most likely when the defense has genuinely attacked the prosecution's case — challenged the valuation, identified evidence problems, or developed a credible intent defense. Prosecutors reduce charges when they have reason to believe the case could be lost or the evidence is contested. That reason has to be created by an active defense.

In first-offense cases where the defendant is willing to make the victim whole through restitution and demonstrate accountability, favorable resolutions are more achievable — but they still require an attorney who's willing to push for them rather than accepting the first offer.

What a felony theft conviction actually does to your life

A felony conviction in Nevada affects much more than the criminal sentence. Theft convictions specifically follow people in ways other felonies sometimes don't — because they show up prominently in background checks and are taken seriously by employers, particularly in jobs involving financial responsibility, access to property, or professional licensing.

Felony theft convictions in Nevada carry a waiting period before record sealing is available. A Category D felony carries a 5-year waiting period after discharge. Avoiding the conviction in the first place is always the better outcome.

What to do if you've been charged

Do not give a statement to law enforcement, loss prevention, or investigators without an attorney. Statements about what happened, why you took something, or who else was involved are used to establish intent — the very element that drives the charge.

If you have documentation that supports a legitimate claim to the property — receipts, messages, records of a dispute or agreement — preserve it now. That evidence can change what the prosecution can actually prove.

Call 702-990-0190 for a same-day case review.

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