Born in Reno in 1982, Damian R. Sheets has been a native Nevadan for the past 28 years. Having grown up in a legal family where his father was general counsel for Southwest Gas Corporation, chairman of the Nevada State Ethics Commission, chairman of the Nevada State Tax Commission, and general counsel of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Mr. Sheets always knew that he had a passion for pursuing a career in law. In 1987, Mr. Sheets moved to Las Vegas and, in 2001, he graduated from Durango High School. After graduating magna cum laude from the Ohio State University, Mr. Sheets attended law school at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, where he graduated with his Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 2007. During his time as a law student, Mr. Sheets clerked for the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Gonzales, Eighth Judicial District Court, Department 11, worked as a law clerk for Kamer Zucker & Abbot, and externed for the Clark County Public Defender's office. After passing the bar, Mr. Sheets went on to open his own successful practice, known as DAMIAN R. SHEETS, CHTD., where he represented hundreds of clients, with great success, regarding their criminal and family law issues. During this same period of time, Mr. Sheets served as a primary legal writer for seven local attorneys, often times drafting their appeals and serving as co-counsel at their trials. Mr. Sheets also served on the Clark County Indigent Defense panel, representing numerous public defender clients on behalf of the State of Nevada. After having successfully run his business for over two years, Damian was recognized as a "Nevada Elite: Top 20 Up and Coming Attorney" for the State of Nevada in Nevada Lawyer Magazine. This distinction was awarded based upon a vote of fellow attorneys and judges in Nevada.
After taking a short break from his practice, Mr. Sheets worked as a prosecutor for the City of Henderson. During this time, Mr. Sheets prosecuted hundreds, if not thousands, of DUI and Domestic Battery cases, and acted as lead attorney for the criminal appeals department. In 2010, Mr. Sheets accepted a position as partner in the downtown office of Mayfield Gruber & Sheets. At Mayfield Gruber & Sheets, Mr. Sheets hopes to continue to provide the same excellent and ethical service that both he and his partners have provided to criminal and family law clients for a combined 30+ years.
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defense
- Traffic Tickets
- Domestic Battery
- DUI
- Misdemeanors
- Felonies
- Divorce
- Custody
- Child Support
- Visitation
- Criminal Forfeiture
- Landlord/Tenancy Disputes
- HOA Disputes
- Personal Injury
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Nevada State Bar
- U.S. District Court District of Nevada
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Courts where Mr. Sheets has Represented Clients
- Beatty Justice Court
- Boulder City Justice Court
- Clark County Justice Court
- Eighth Judicial District Court - Clark County, NV
- Fifth Judicial District Court - Nye County, NV
- Goodsprings Justice Court
- Henderson Justice Court
- Henderson Municipal Court
- Las Vegas Municipal Court
- Laughlin Justice Court
- Mesquite Justice Court
- North Las Vegas Justice Court
- North Las Vegas Municipal Court
- Searchlight Justice Court
- U.S. District Court - District of Nevada
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals - 7th Circuit (Chicago, IL)*
- U.S. Court of Appeals - 9th Circuit
Education
- UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law - Las Vegas, Nevada
- J.D. - 2004
- The Ohio State University - Columbus, Ohio
- B.A. - 2001
- Major: Criminology
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Nevada, Member, 2007 - Present
- Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2008 - Present
- United States District Court, District of Nevada, 2007-Present
- Eighth Judicial District Court, Conflict Panel Attorney, 2008 - Present
Awards
Nevada Legal Legal Elite: Recently featured, in Nevada Business Magazine, as one of the “Legal Elite: Top 20 Best Up & Coming Attorneys” in the State of Nevada, a distinction based solely on the opinion of other practicing attorneys and Judges within Nevada.
Past Legal Work Experience
City of Henderson. Henderson, Nevada
Deputy City Attorney/Lead Attorney - Criminal Appeals, Fall 2009-Fall 2010.
Damian R. Sheets, Chtd. Las Vegas, Nevada
Founding Attorney, Winter 2007-Fall 2010.
Draskovich & Oronoz, P.C., Las Vegas, Nevada.
Law Clerk/Attorney - Motions and Appeals, Winter 2006- Fall 2009.
Thomas A. Ericsson, Chtd., Las Vegas, Nevada.
Law Clerk/Attorney - Motions and Appeals, Winter 2006-Fall 2009.
Kurth Law Office, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Law Clerk/Attorney - Motions and Appeals, Fall 2007- Fall 2009.
Mayfield, Turco, and Gruber, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Law Clerk/Attorney - Motions and Appeals, Fall 2007- Present.
Kamer, Zucker, & Abbott, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Law Clerk, Summer 2006-Spring 2007.
Clark County Public Defender’s Office, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Law Clerk, Summer 2006-Early 2007.
Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez, Eight Judicial District Court, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Legal Extern, Fall 2005.
Clark County Legal Services, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Spring 2005.
Languages
- English
- Spanish**
Case Experience***:
Below is a sampling of some of the notable cases Mr. Sheets has worked on.
State of Nevada v. Tyon Hopkins, 07-C-231247, Clark County District Court, Co-Trial Counsel. Primary offense charged: First Degree Murder. Resolution: Beat the state's offer.
United States v. Kyle Kimoto, 07-30089-MJR, United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois. Co-Trial Counsel. Primary offenses charged: Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud. Resolution: Sentencing reversed on appeal.
State of Nevada v. Landious Hinton, 08-C-240312, Clark County District Court, Co-Trial Counsel. Primary offense charged: Attempt Robbery with Use of a Deadly Weapon. Verdict: Hung Jury.
Todd McMillan v. Jihad Zogheib, 06-A-518284, Clark County District Court, Department 23. Lead Trial Counsel. Result: Case Dismissed Against Client.
State of Nevada v. Kenyon Hair, 08-C-2443225, Goodsprings Justice Court, Clark County District Court. Lead Counsel. Primary offenses charged: First Degree Kidnapping, Attempt Murder with Use of a Deadly Weapon.
State of Nevada v. Wesem Al-Halaybeh, 08-C-241000, Henderson Justice Court Department. Lead retained Counsel. Primary offenses charged: First Degree Kidnapping. Resolution: Negotiated case to Gross Misdemeanor with no immigration concerns and informal probation pre-trial.
State of Nevada v. Landious Hinton, 08-C-240312, Clark County Justice Court Department 10. Associate Counsel. Primary offenses charged: Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Attempt Robbery w/Deadly Weapon. Track case appointed through Clark County (for Mr. Ericsson). Resolution: Trial held with hung jury.
State of Nevada v. Eutiquio Real, 07-C-238291, Clark County Justice Court Department 10. Associate Counsel. Primary offenses charged: Trafficking in a Controlled Substance.
State of Nevada v. Peter Burchett, 07-C-236742, Clark County Justice Court Department 10. Associate Counsel. Primary offenses charged: Assault w/Deadly Weapon.
State of Nevada v. Darius Mabry, 08-C-241230, Clark County Justice Court Department 10. Associate Counsel. Primary offenses charged: Robbery w/Deadly Weapon.
State of Nevada v. Loranzo Arrington, Case Number C-205009, Clark County District Court, Department 9. Primary issue: Lozado hearing.
State of Nevada v. George Medina Sanchez, Case Number C-225463, Clark County District Court, Department 17. Primary issue: Lozado hearing.
United States v. Kyle Kimoto, 07-30089-MJR, United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois. Retained counsel. Primary offenses charged: Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud. Resolution: Sentence reversed on appeal.
Notable Appellate Cases:
State of Nevada v. Julian Grijalva, Appellate Case Number 49607, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Denial of Motion to Withdraw Plea.
State of Nevada v. Willie Wiltz, Appellate Case Number 45935, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: DUI w/Death conviction.
State of Nevada v. Tyon Hopkins, Appellate Case Number 50873, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel . Primary issue appealed: Murder conviction.
State of Nevada v. Peter Pirtle, Appellate Case Number 51835, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Sexual Assault Conviction. Resolution: Set for oral arguments before Nevada Supreme Court.
State of Nevada v. Richard Navarro, Appellate Case Number 51950, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Possession of Stolen Property conviction with Habitual Criminal Enhancement.
State of Nevada v. Donny Murphy, Appellate Case Number 51294, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Robbery with Use of a Deadly Weapon.
State of Nevada v. Darius Mabry, Appellate Case Number 51585, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Robbery with Use of a Deadly Weapon.
State of Nevada v. Marell Hill, Appellate Case Number 52404, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Attempt Robbery with Use of a Deadly Weapon.
State of Nevada v. Avetis Archanian, Case Number C-201034, Clark County District Court, Department 14. Associate Counsel. Primary issue: Capital Murder conviction with Death Sentence.
State of Nevada v. Colbert Nichols, Appellate Case Number 52157, Nevada Supreme Court. Associate Counsel. Primary issue appealed: Murder conviction.
Reilly v.Morris, Appellate Case Number 53106, Nevada Supreme Court. Lead Counsel. Primary issue appealed: District Court’s Granting of a Temporary Protective Order. Resolution: Response ordered by Nevada Supreme Court. Underlying cases negotiated.
* Acted as a consultant for local counsel on an appeal.
**Spanish interpreters are on staff at all times.
*** "Case Experience" is defined as any non-governmental case that Damian R. Sheets has worked on in any legal capacity, whether it be as a consultant, legal writer, or attorney.
