What If they Called the Police From the Get-Go? - Very Bad Things (1998) Discussion

[–] DrFilmFalm 15 years ago

Nothing bad would have happened. Prostitution is legal there and he was *beep* her on the wall it was a freak accident. At most he might get manslaughter.

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[–] allenone75 15 years ago

Yeah, in Vegas there's really only one law:

"Did you pay for it?"

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[–] marsfalls7 15 years ago

Brothels are legal, as far as I know it's not legal to order a hooker. And cocaine and weed are still illegal. They'd be slightly *beep* but not terribly.

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[–] deft-ones82 15 years ago

It all went downhill when they killed the security guy, or whatever he was, at the hotel.

They should have just owned up to it. I know, I know, then the movie wouldn't have been more than an hour or less, but still, in reality that would've been the best way to go.

I agree, Piven would've got 'manslaughter'. I don't think it would've went further than that. It wasn't premeditated and there were no signs of a struggle, etc.

M. Night Shaya..Shamananna...Shallaman...something September eleventhy

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] VBoston 13 years ago

Brothels are NOT legal in Las Vegas nor in Clark county (google Prostitution in Nevada) neither is prostitution. The closest LEGAL brothels are about an hour's drive outside of Vegas in Pahrump located in Nye county. (Guys, lose those receipts from that "sports bar" in Pahrump or use cash)

For those that are curious, Sheri's is probably the most upscale but is also the most expensive (about $300/15 min. 2011 prices and goes up from there).
They have a sex "menu" on their website for prices and services rendered.

Usually you can also find coupons on the websites to help drum up business during our challenging economic times.

However, they have a full bar and an "Old West" style saloon and it only costs a couple bucks for a coke or a beer and the pretty girls will come and talk to you for free. They will even give you a free tour of the country club-like facilities, no obligation. They are highly regulated by the state and EXTREMELY safe sex is mandatory (condoms, no kissing, even rubber gloves if you want to touch anything intimate). The place is HUGE and the girls are very attractive and eager to please. They have something for ALL tastes, as long as it's legal.

That being said, Vegas, like almost all towns, has its share of ILLEGAL prostitution, attactive girls working the casino floors, hustling up business for about $300 appx. (since the girls are "free agents" the price is usually negotiable). There are also TONS of paid "escorts" but sex is probably "extra" and costs a lot more, just like in the movie.

Although in the Vegas city limits it is technically illegal, the police usually look the other way but "officially" the law is enforced.

Vegas kinda has its "own" rules and as long as no one gets hurt, the police usually don't get involved.

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[–] camel-wides 11 years ago

prostitution is not legal in vegas... not even in brothels...
the legal nevada brothers are NOT in vegas. they are all outside the city limits.

as for the drugs, nevada has some of the most draconian drug laws in the country, esecially in 98 when this movie was made.

but assuming they got rid of the drugs... the fuzz wouldn't likely push a solicitation charge for a dead hooker. especially if no one admitted to paying for SEX.
a manslaughter charge for the one who actually killed her... at the most.
the coroner would have labeled her death as "death by sexual misadventure"
for the rest of them, not sure if any charges would even be filed...

really, the drugs are the worst thing they were looking at.

first off, being under the influence is a crime in nevada all it's own.
additionally they would have all been charged with joint possession of the drugs... a part fo nevada law where more than one person can be charged for possession.
they were all adults, so fines of up to a grand each, and misdemeanor charges for the weed.... (minors under 21, felony charge, up to 5k fine)
the coke however would have been up to a year in jail...

realistically, they could have probationed out with completion of a state accepted program, or possibly gotten it thrown out completely by completing an acceptable program (especially seeing as how they were all adults, low flight risks, had enough money to lawyer up properly, and looked like respectable citizens)
thats assuming they have no priors of course.

one can only assume slaters character had something to hide, something to lose from the vegas police looking into him... otherwise, why would it all have gone so very sideways?

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[–] davedave11 8 years ago

Prostitution is not legal in the way you think. There are certain places outside of La sVegas where licensed brothels are legal. That's it. Prostitution is illegal under state law in Clark County (which contains Las Vegas), ...

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[–] icem2829 15 years ago

If they have called the police from the get-go, i dont even think Piven would have gotten charged with anything that would have sent him away. It was clearly a freak accident, and would be hard to prove and thing worse then that. He might have gotten slapped with something like reckless endagerment as you mentioned. As far as the others, I cant see anything sticking. Drug possession? doubful, they would just flush it down the toilet. So what else could you charge them with. Just being in the vincity of a crime does not charge you with a crime unless they helped it somehow, which they didnt.

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[–] sweetm386 15 years ago

Prostituion is not legal in Vegas. It is in Pahrump and Reno.

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[–] JackTheBaboon 15 years ago

doesn't vegas have some pretty strict drug laws, too? or is that in the past?

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] sweetm386 15 years ago

I think Vegas has a ZERO TOLERANCE law on drugs.

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[–] liven1812 15 years ago

That is what I was considering. Involuntary manslaughter, even voluntary manslaughter, Piven, Michael?, would have been out of prison (if even, perhaps jail) in two years. If they were smart they would have cleaned up the crack and then called the police. But, then, as you said, we wouldn't have had a movie.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] AbsintheSummer 15 years ago

Yes, it WAS a freak accident, but law would probably stipulate that it might not have happened had they not been high & drunk... (Not proud of it, but) I know from experience how the combo affects depth perception and sight.

So... In that case, Michael probably would have ended up with RECKLESS HOMICIDE and the others would have been charged with either RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT for being jacked up & calling the prostitute (because of their inebriation, the room would have immediately been considered a dangerous area for others), or DRUG POSESSION/USE and SOLICITATION (for "ordering" the chick).

Love is rich with Honey and Venom
Love this-->

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[–] eliostar1 15 years ago

The were so worried about the drugs, how about flushing them down the toilet.

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[–] rp69 15 years ago

Escort prostitution IS legal in Vegas. Street trolling is illegal. Calling an escort service, and having a girl delivered to your room to service you and your friends is ok. Escort companies have dozens of mexican men on every corner of the strip handing out handbills and buisiness cards, they even where company shirts. There's also newspaper style directories in curbside vending boxes set up all over the place just for escort sevices. You can not pick up a hooker in the street though, that's solicitation. But he knew a girl, called ahead, and she came to the room, there was no solicitation .

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Mr_Censored 14 years ago

I'm probably the only one glad he died.

I was actually disappointed that he died when he did. It seemed to me they could have gone even further with the character.

It's always funny until someone gets hurt and then it's just hilarious!

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[–] hockeykev 12 years ago

Vegas has been trying to get rid of the "card hawkers" and many of the vending boxes are gone.

However as others have said, prostitution is not actually legal in Las Vegas.

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[–] rickb69 9 years ago

Escort prostitution IS legal in Vegas

no it is not. They are advertising for a stripper to come to your room or to give you a massage, even though most of them are prostitutes. Just like in the movie, she was a stripper, the sex was $500 more.

If you do want to get a prostitute, don't ask them if they are a cop, they can lie if they are undercover, ask them if they want to take some nude pictures, if they are a cop they will say no, then you can walk away and not get busted

You go into a smoke shop, you can't ask to buy a bong, marijuana is still illegal but, you can ask to buy a water pipe to smoke tobacco, even though they know most people use "water pipes" to smoke weed.

I have 2 sets of twin boys, Pete & Repete and Mark & Remarkable

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[–] ajinsomniac 14 years ago

If they flushed the drugs down the toilet they wouldnt have to deal with the drug charges.

Since there was no record of her going through anybody to get the prostitute, they could try to swing the angle of just meeting the girl in the streets and not knowing she was a prostitute (Some hookers wait until you've already done the deed to tell you....and you think you're just getting a one night stand).

If they worked it out and stuck to the story, I dont think any of them would of gotten anything.

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[–] smoko 14 years ago

A slap on the wrist? Are you sure? I'm no legal expert, but I would think he'd get some jail time, 12 months at least, for manslaughter.

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[–] ShangriLaDeeDa 14 years ago

This is a facinating thread! The actual "trouble" they were in would be limited to Piven IF they were to get rid of the drugs and paraphernalia.

The prostitute was merely a stripper to the rest of the crew.

I think the rest of the guys were technically in the clear.

"Girl, you make me wish I had THREE hands!" - Total Recall

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[–] kingaliencracker 12 years ago

A slap on the wrist? Are you sure? I'm no legal expert, but I would think he'd get some jail time, 12 months at least, for manslaughter.

It just so happens I am a legal expert. :)

Based STRICTLY on what WE THE AUDIENCE saw, he didn't commit a crime.

The law is designed to punish those with intent or who were acting recklessly (i.e. someone who runs a red light or speeding and hits another vehicle, killing one or more passengers).

Piven & the victim were having sex in a private bathroom. Neither one of those is an illegal act. They weren't using any type of toys or weapons inappropriately, and the sex wasn't particularly rough. It wasn't Piven's bathroom - he didn't put a dangerous, spikey towel hook (I think that's what it was - been a few years since I've seen the movie) on the bathroom wall.

It was a freak accident. We could argue that if they were having sex in a bed or weren't moving around while having sex, she'd be alive. But since it's not a crime to have sex in a private bathroom or to change positions while you're having sex, it just boils down to it being a tragic accident.

HAVING SAID THAT...obviously the police and prosecutor aren't privy to what WE saw. There are extenuating circumstances. Piven would have likely been given a drug & alcohol screening which he undoubtedly would fail, and the victim was a hooker (not sure of Las Vegas laws surrounding hookers so I'll defer to others who do know such things). So while what we actually saw wasn't a crime, the police would put the pieces together that a crime did take place.

Now, what he would be charged with varies and it's really difficult to know if he would just be charged with felony endangerment or manslaughter. But if he has no priors and was otherwise an upstanding citizen, he probably would have gotten probation or maybe even a deferred judgment if he had a REALLY good lawyer. But I doubt he would have gotten ACTUAL jail time.

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[–] netropolis 14 years ago

I think the main concern would have been what would have happened to their perfectly sculpted lives... Adams Wife would have left him, Michael - maybe some kinda charge and a plea agreement... Kyle's engagement would have ended abruptly... Boyd's real estate reputation would have been overshadowed by the news reports... Charles - who cares he was a nobody in the movie...

So once it was decided the 105LB problem was easy to take care of - adding another 240lbs (security guard) was easy enough.

Having everyone lose it - that was hard to swallow. If did all of that to spare your repuations... you suck it up!!

As Nicky Santoro once said: A lot of holes in the desert, and a lot of problems are buried in those holes. But you gotta do it right. I mean, you gotta have the hole already dug before you show up with a package in the trunk. Otherwise, you're talking about a half-hour to forty-five minutes worth of digging. And who knows who's gonna come along in that time? Pretty soon, you gotta dig a few more holes. You could be there all *beep* night.

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[–] motleycruefan 13 years ago

@ netropolis
Great post. I totally agree.

and love the Nicky quote lol

"But a shower scene with no nudity? It is like buying a car with no keys" - Busch Light

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[–] lou_vegas 14 years ago

To the poster who thinks prostitution is legal in Vegas:
It's illegal in the county where Vegas is. You have to drive about 2 hours to get to the nearest legal brothel.

"I'm perfect. Are you?"

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