Nevada Revised Statutes

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 453.3405 (2026)

Trafficking in controlled substances: Suspended sentence limited; eligibility for parole; reduction or suspension of sentence of person assisting in investigation or prosecution of any offense; consideration of factors by court; suspension of sentence of person convicted of trafficking in fentanyl

✓ current as of July 2026
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NRS 453.3405  Trafficking in controlled substances: Suspended sentence limited; eligibility for parole; reduction or suspension of sentence of person assisting in investigation or prosecution of any offense; consideration of factors by court; suspension of sentence of person convicted of trafficking in fentanyl.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 4, the adjudication of guilt and imposition of sentence of a person found guilty of trafficking in a controlled substance in violation of NRS 453.3385, 453.3387 or 453.339 must not be suspended and the person is not eligible for parole until the person has actually served the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment prescribed by the section under which the person was convicted.

      2.  The court, upon an appropriate motion, may reduce or suspend the sentence of any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of NRS 453.3385, 453.3387 or 453.339 if the court finds that the convicted person rendered substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of any offense. The arresting agency must be given an opportunity to be heard before the motion is granted. Upon good cause shown, the motion may be heard in camera.

      3.  Any appropriate reduction or suspension of a sentence pursuant to subsection 2 must be determined by the court, for reasons stated by the court that may include, without limitation, consideration of the following:

      (a) The court’s evaluation of the significance and usefulness of the convicted person’s assistance, taking into consideration the prosecuting attorney’s evaluation of the assistance rendered;

      (b) The truthfulness, completeness and reliability of any information or testimony provided by the convicted person;

      (c) The nature and extent of the convicted person’s assistance;

      (d) Any injury suffered or any danger or risk of injury to the convicted person or his or her family resulting from his or her assistance; and

      (e) The timeliness of the convicted person’s assistance.

      4.  The court may suspend the sentence of any person convicted of violating any provision of NRS 453.3387 if the person establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the person did not know that the mixture at issue contained illicitly manufactured fentanyl. If a person convicted of violating any provision of NRS 453.3387 claims that he or she did not know that the mixture at issue contained illicitly manufactured fentanyl, the court shall, at sentencing, make findings of fact and state its reasoning on the record as to whether the person has met the burden of proof pursuant to this subsection.

      (Added to NRS by 1983, 288; A 1985, 159; 2009, 370; 2019, 4474; 2023, 2894)

     

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases, 1987–2020 · leading case: State v. Lucero, 249 P.3d 1226 (Nev. 2011).
State v. Lucero, 249 P.3d 1226 (Nev. 2011). · cites it 22× “[4] When the Legislature first enacted NRS 453.3405 in 1983, see 1983 Nev. Stat.”
Parrish v. State, 12 P.3d 953 (Nev. 2000). · cites it 25× “Additionally, NRS 453.3405(1) mandates that a defendant convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance is not eligible for a reduced or suspended sentence.”
Matos v. State, 878 P.2d 288 (Nev. 1994). · cites it 10× “NRS 453.3405(2) allows the trial judge to “reduce or suspend” an accused’s sentence if the accused renders “substantial assistance in the identification, arrest or conviction” of any accomplices, coconspirators or principals.”
Andrews v. State, 412 P.3d 37 (Nev. 2018). “) Likewise, NRS 453.3405 states that "the adjudication of guilt and imposition of sentence of a person found guilty of trafficking in a controlled substance in violation of NRS 453.”
Sheriff v. Shade, 858 P.2d 840 (Nev. 1993). · cites it 2× “3385 and NRS 453.3405, one count of unlawful sale of a controlled substance (heroin) in violation of NRS 453.”
Sanchez v. State, 734 P.2d 726 (Nev. 1987). · cites it 2× “A police officer then explained the provisions of NRS 453.3405 in Spanish to Sanchez, who admitted that he sold heroin, that he was selling heroin for another person, and that he knew such sales were illegal.”
State v. Second Jud. Dist. Court, 116 P.3d 834 (Nev. 2005). “g., NRS 176A. 100(1) (prison sentences for convictions of murder, first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault of a child, lewdness with a child and for habitual criminal adjudications cannot be suspended); NRS 453.”
Andrews (ryan) Vs. State, 2018 NV 12 (Nev. 2018). · cites it 2× “) Likewise, NRS 453.3405 states that "the adjudication of guilt and imposition of sentence of a person found guilty of trafficking in a controlled substance in violation of NRS 453.”
Crabtree v. Kabell (D. Nev. 2020). · cites it 2× “3405 between the district 15 attorney, judge, public defender, and county sheriff involved in his criminal case, and 16 seeks to vacate his criminal sentence, in a document phrased as a notice of intent to file 17 a civil rights complaint. (ECF No. 1-1.) Before the Court is the…”
Crabtree v. Wehrly (D. Nev. 2020). · cites it 2× “) Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation (“R&R” or “Recommendation”) of 17 United States Magistrate Carla Baldwin (ECF No. 8), primarily recommending the Court 18 dismiss this case as malicious with prejudice.”
Crabtree v. Wanker (D. Nev. 2020). · cites it 2× “) 16 Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation (“R&R” or “Recommendation”) of 17 United States Magistrate Carla L. Baldwin (ECF No. 7), recommending the Court dismiss 18 this case with prejudice.”
Crabtree v. Earnest (D. Nev. 2020). · cites it 2× “) Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation 17 (“R&R” or “Recommendation”) of United States Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb (ECF 18 No.”
— Nev. Rev. Stat. § 453.3405(1) — 2 cases
Parrish v. State, 12 P.3d 953 (Nev. 2000). “Additionally, NRS 453.3405(1) mandates that a defendant convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance is not eligible for a reduced or suspended sentence.”
Ortiz v. State, 756 P.2d 1189 (Nev. 1988).
— Nev. Rev. Stat. § 453.3405(2) — 4 cases
State v. Lucero, 249 P.3d 1226 (Nev. 2011). “[4] When the Legislature first enacted NRS 453.3405 in 1983, see 1983 Nev. Stat.”
Parrish v. State, 12 P.3d 953 (Nev. 2000). “Additionally, NRS 453.3405(1) mandates that a defendant convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance is not eligible for a reduced or suspended sentence.”
Matos v. State, 878 P.2d 288 (Nev. 1994). “NRS 453.3405(2) allows the trial judge to “reduce or suspend” an accused’s sentence if the accused renders “substantial assistance in the identification, arrest or conviction” of any accomplices, coconspirators or principals.”
Sanchez v. State, 734 P.2d 726 (Nev. 1987). “A police officer then explained the provisions of NRS 453.3405 in Spanish to Sanchez, who admitted that he sold heroin, that he was selling heroin for another person, and that he knew such sales were illegal.”
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