Summerlin Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing Criminal Charges in Summerlin or West Las Vegas?

Criminal allegations in Summerlin move quickly — often beginning with Metro’s Summerlin Area Command and progressing to Las Vegas Justice Court or Clark County District Court within days. When the stakes involve your freedom, reputation, and long-term future, the attorney you choose early in the process matters.

Goodman Law Group provides the level of representation these cases demand. 

Attorney Ross Goodman is one of only two lawyers in Nevada who is:

• A Certified Specialist in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the State Bar of Nevada
• Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

These are the highest validated credentials available to a criminal trial lawyer in the United States, and they reflect a career built on disciplined preparation, courtroom command, and successful results in serious felony cases.

If you have been arrested or contacted by detectives, call (702) 825-7854 or contact us online to speak with a Summerlin criminal defense attorney for free.

Why Clients Choose Goodman Law Group

Individuals in Summerlin, including professionals, business owners, executives, military members, and high-profile clients, turn to Goodman Law Group because we offer:

• Unmatched Trial Credentials: One of Nevada’s only board-certified criminal trial specialists with decades of courtroom experience.
• Strategic, Disciplined Defense: A measured, methodical approach shaped by Ross Goodman’s background as a U.S. Marine Corps Major.
• Hundreds of Successful Resolutions: Dismissals, acquittals, and major reductions in complex felony and misdemeanor cases.
• Deep Local Experience: Extensive familiarity with Summerlin-area investigations, Metro’s policing patterns, and the expectations of local courts and prosecutors.

Criminal Cases We Handle in Summerlin

Goodman Law Group defends clients in every type of misdemeanor and felony charge prosecuted in Summerlin, Las Vegas Justice Court, and Clark County District Court. 

Our practice includes:

• DUI & Vehicular Crimes — First-time DUIs, high-BAC cases, felony DUI, DUI resulting in injury or death, accident-related allegations, and license-revocation defense.
• Domestic Violence Charges — Battery domestic violence, strangulation, substantial bodily harm, weapon enhancements, and protective-order violations.
• Juvenile Crimes — School-related offenses, fights, property crimes, drug allegations, and cases involving minors charged as adults.
• Sex Crimes — Sexual assault, lewdness, indecent exposure, online solicitation, and allegations involving intoxication or consent disputes.
• Violent Offenses — Assault, battery, robbery, kidnapping, firearms offenses, and allegations involving threats or use of force.
• Drug Crimes — Possession, distribution, trafficking, and prescription-related charges.
• Theft & Property Crimes — Burglary, grand larceny, shoplifting, fraud, and embezzlement.
• White Collar & Financial Crimes — Fraud, forgery, identity theft, computer crimes, and business-related investigations.
• Record Sealing & Post-Conviction Relief — Motions to seal records, probation modifications, appeals, and sentence-reduction strategies.

Where Summerlin Criminal Cases Begin

Most criminal cases originating in Summerlin start with LVMPD’s Summerlin Area Command, which covers a large residential region with extensive private security and surveillance networks. Incidents at homes, gated communities, businesses, schools, parks, and casinos typically fall into this investigative zone.

In practice, this means officers often make decisions quickly based on the first version of events they hear, the statements of witnesses or neighbors, and any immediately available video.

Common sources of criminal investigations include:

• Metro Summerlin Patrol responding to domestic disputes, disturbances, juvenile incidents, and traffic stops.
• Private community security, particularly in guard-gated developments, where reports may rely heavily on security personnel rather than police observation.
• Casino and commercial security from places like Red Rock Casino, Rampart Casino, and Downtown Summerlin, which often generate detailed internal reports before police ever arrive.
• Schools and youth facilities, where fights, threats, or drug-related allegations often result in juvenile referrals.

Because many Summerlin communities use Ring/Nest cameras, HOA surveillance, and private patrol, early legal intervention is often the only opportunity to secure the same evidence before it disappears or is interpreted unfavorably by law enforcement.

Where Summerlin Criminal Cases Are Handled

Even though Summerlin is its own distinct community, criminal cases are not heard in a Summerlin courthouse. Jurisdiction flows through the broader Las Vegas and Clark County court systems. Which court you appear in depends on the severity of the charge and where the incident occurred.

Here’s how most cases proceed:

• Las Vegas Justice Court. Handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, protective order hearings, and the initial stages of felony cases (including bail, arraignment, and preliminary hearings).
• Clark County District Court. All felony cases, including DUI with injury, domestic violence with strangulation or substantial bodily harm, sex crimes, weapons charges, and serious violent offenses, are prosecuted here. These courts have specialized divisions that handle high-level felony cases.
• Clark County Juvenile Court. Oversees cases involving minors accused of crimes, including school-related incidents, battery, drug allegations, and property offenses. Some juvenile cases may be certified to adult court depending on the offense.

Because Summerlin cases feed into some of the busiest courts in Nevada, the early stages, especially bail, charge decisions, and the preliminary hearing, can have an outsized impact on the outcome. A disciplined defense strategy often begins before the District Attorney even finalizes the charges.

What to Expect After an Arrest in Summerlin

While every case is unique, Summerlin-based criminal matters follow a fairly predictable path once law enforcement becomes involved. Understanding each stage helps clients anticipate what is coming next — and highlights why early representation makes a meaningful difference.

• Arrest or Citation. Depending on the allegation, police may arrest immediately, issue a citation, or submit the case for later review. Domestic violence, DUI, and serious felony allegations typically result in on-scene arrests.
• Booking at CCDC. Most arrestees are transported to the Clark County Detention Center. Bail amounts may be preset, but in many felony cases, the court determines conditions at the initial appearance.
• Initial Court Appearance and Bail. The judge considers charges, prior history, safety concerns, and flight risk. Conditions may include no-contact orders, alcohol or GPS monitoring, or travel restrictions — all of which can be challenged with the right advocacy.
• Charge Filing by the District Attorney. The DA reviews police reports and evidence and decides whether to file the same charges, add enhancements, or decline prosecution. A strong defense can influence this decision before charges solidify.
• Preliminary Hearing. This is the first opportunity to test the state’s evidence. Cross-examination at this stage often exposes inconsistencies, unsupported claims, or investigative shortcuts.
• Negotiation, Motions, or Case Dismissal. Many Summerlin cases are resolved through strategic negotiations or motions challenging evidence, police procedures, or constitutional violations.
• Trial (if necessary). If no agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial, where credibility, forensic evidence, and legal sufficiency are tested before a jury.

From the first point of contact with police to the final resolution, early involvement from a seasoned defense attorney often determines whether a case collapses under scrutiny or escalates to felony prosecution.

How Goodman Law Group Builds a Defense

Serious cases require more than negotiations — they require disciplined preparation, early intervention, and a command of courtroom strategy. Our approach includes:

• Early Case Assessment. Immediate review of reports, body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and digital evidence. Early intervention often prevents overcharging or helps secure release conditions.
• Targeted Investigation. Independent investigation to obtain surveillance, reconstruct timelines, interview witnesses, and preserve evidence the state might overlook.
• Expert-Driven Review. Where appropriate, we work with toxicologists, forensic specialists, digital-forensics experts, or mental-health professionals to challenge the government’s assumptions.
• Strategic Motion Practice. Many successful outcomes stem from identifying constitutional violations, illegal searches, defective warrants, or improper police procedures.
• Trial-Ready Representation. With nearly three decades in court and some of Nevada’s highest trial credentials, Ross Goodman is known for disciplined, persuasive advocacy before judges and juries.

Call for a Confidential Consultation: (702) 825-7854

Whether you were arrested in Summerlin, stopped on Summerlin Parkway, questioned at Red Rock Casino, or contacted by detectives, your next steps matter. Before speaking with law enforcement or making statements, speak with a defense lawyer who has the credentials and experience to protect you.

Call (702) 825-7854 or contact us online to discuss your case with our award-winning criminal defense attorney in Summerlin, NV.