High court throws out conviction for delays

The Nevada Supreme Court has thrown out the conviction of a man after agreeing his rights were violated by a lengthy delay before he was prosecuted.

Derrick Ramon Griffin was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of robbery. He reserved the right to appeal, claiming his right to a speedy trial was denied.

A Supreme Court panel of Justices Bob Rose, Myron Leavitt and Bill Maupin noted in the order that there was a delay of more than six years before Griffin was arrested and returned to Nevada.

"A delay of this length is presumptively prejudicial," the order states. "Moreover, we note that the delay is largely attributable to the state's decision not to extradite appellant in 1999 because the state could not locate the victim."

Griffin was told by California officials that Clark County authorities didn't want to extradite him.

The decision throws out the conviction and the case, freeing Griffin.