Robbery in Nevada (NRS 200.380): Penalties, Armed Robbery and Defenses

October 18, 2026
joshua

Robbery is one of the most serious non-homicide charges in Nevada. It combines a theft with force or fear, and it carries a 2-year mandatory minimum term. If a deadly weapon is used, the sentence can be doubled through a consecutive enhancement, and probation is not available.

Nevada’s robbery statute also reaches conduct that many people would not call robbery – such as a shoplifting case where the person pushes past a loss prevention officer on the way out. Understanding how NRS 200.380 defines force and fear is the starting point for any defense.

Robbery in Nevada at a Glance

StatuteNRS 200.380
ClassificationCategory B felony
Possible sentence2 to 15 years in state prison
With a deadly weaponAdditional consecutive 1 to 20 years under NRS 193.165 (cannot exceed the robbery sentence); no probation
Record sealing10 years after release or discharge (crime of violence)

What the State Must Prove Under NRS 200.380

To convict you of robbery, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you:

  1. Unlawfully took personal property;
  2. From another person, or in that person’s presence;
  3. Against the person’s will;
  4. By means of force or violence, or fear of injury – immediate or future – to that person, a family member, or anyone in their company at the time.

Force or fear counts if it was used to obtain the property, to keep it, to prevent or overcome resistance, or to help the person escape. The degree of force is immaterial as long as it was used to compel the victim’s acquiescence. That is why a theft that turns into a struggle in a parking lot can be charged as robbery even though no force was used at the moment the property was taken.

Robbery does not require a weapon, an injury or a large amount of property. A phone snatched with a shove can be robbery. On the other hand, a pickpocketing with no force or fear is not robbery; it is larceny from the person under NRS 205.270.

Penalties for Robbery in Nevada

Robbery is punished under the robbery statute itself, with the deadly weapon enhancement added separately.

CircumstanceClassificationPossible sentence
RobberyCategory B felony2 to 15 years in prison
Robbery with use of a deadly weaponCategory B felony + enhancement2 to 15 years, plus a consecutive 1 to 20 years (enhancement cannot exceed the underlying sentence); probation prohibited
Robbery of a victim 60 or older or a vulnerable personCategory B felony + enhancement2 to 15 years, plus a consecutive 1 to 20 years under NRS 193.167
Attempted robberyCategory B felony1 to 10 years under NRS 193.153

Under NRS 193.165(5), a person convicted of robbery with the use of a deadly weapon cannot receive probation or a suspended sentence. Without a weapon, probation is legally available but uncommon. Judges must state on the record the factors they considered in setting any enhancement.

A “deadly weapon” is broader than a gun or knife. It includes any instrument used in a way that is readily capable of causing substantial bodily harm or death. Whether an object used or displayed in the case actually qualifies is often contested.

Common Defenses to Robbery Charges

Every case turns on its own facts, but these are the issues we look at first when reviewing a charge like this one.

Mistaken identification

Robberies happen quickly, often at night, and witnesses are frightened. Eyewitness identification is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. Lineup and show-up procedures, lighting, distance, and cross-racial identification issues are all fair ground at the preliminary hearing and trial.

No force or fear – larceny, not robbery

If the property was taken without force or fear, or force occurred only after the person had abandoned the property, the case may properly be larceny or larceny from the person. Video from stores and parking lots is critical to this argument.

Claim of right

A person who takes property in a good-faith belief that it belongs to them lacks the intent required for a theft offense, although Nevada courts have limited this defense when force is used to recover money owed.

The object was not a deadly weapon

A toy, an unseen “gun” implied through a pocket, or an ordinary object never used in a threatening way may not support the deadly weapon enhancement, which significantly changes the sentencing exposure.

Suppression

Robbery cases frequently involve photo lineups, cell phone records and searches. Each must comply with constitutional requirements.

Record Sealing, Immigration and Other Consequences

Record sealing

Robbery is a crime of violence, so under NRS 179.245 the waiting period to petition for sealing is 10 years after release from custody or discharge from probation or parole.

Immigration

Robbery is generally considered a crime involving moral turpitude and, with a sentence of a year or more, an aggravated felony under federal immigration law. Non-citizens face severe consequences and should get advice before any plea.

Firearms and future cases

A robbery conviction triggers the firearm prohibition in NRS 202.360 and can be used to support habitual criminal treatment in future felony cases.

  • Burglary (NRS 205.060) – frequently charged with robbery when the incident occurs inside a business or home.
  • Grand larceny (NRS 205.220) – theft of property worth $1,200 or more without force.
  • Battery (NRS 200.481) – may be charged separately if someone was struck.
  • Larceny from the person (NRS 205.270) – taking property from a person without force or fear.

How Robbery Cases Move Through Clark County Courts

Felony and gross misdemeanor cases in Clark County begin in a justice court (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas or one of the outlying townships). The State must then show probable cause at a preliminary hearing, or obtain a grand jury indictment, before the case is bound over to the Eighth Judicial District Court for arraignment, motions and trial. The preliminary hearing is often the defense’s first chance to cross-examine the State’s witnesses under oath, and a large share of felony cases are reduced or resolved at the justice court stage, before bindover.

Frequently Asked Questions About Robbery in Nevada

What is armed robbery in Nevada?

Nevada does not have a separate armed robbery statute. It is robbery under NRS 200.380 with a deadly weapon enhancement under NRS 193.165, which adds a consecutive 1 to 20 years and bars probation.

Is shoplifting robbery if I pushed a security guard?

It can be charged that way, because force used to retain property or escape counts. Whether it holds up depends on the sequence of events, which is why store video is so important.

Can you get probation for robbery in Nevada?

Probation is legally possible for robbery without a deadly weapon, though it is not common. It is prohibited if a deadly weapon was used.

Talk to a Henderson Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Robbery Case

Joshua U. AlDabbagh has been licensed in Nevada since 2010 and began his career defending people accused of crimes in Clark County. If you or a family member has been arrested or charged under NRS 200.380, the decisions made in the first days of the case matter: what is said to police, whether evidence is preserved, and how bail and release conditions are handled. Call Southern Nevada Law Firm, PLLC at 702-589-4771 or send a message online to schedule a consultation. Our office is at 2831 St. Rose Parkway, Suite 292, in Henderson, and we handle cases throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and the rest of Clark County. Learn more about our criminal defense practice.

Statutes Cited

This article is general information about Nevada law as of October 2026, not legal advice for any specific situation. Statutes and court decisions change, and the outcome of any case depends on its facts. Reading this page or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising.

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