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Recent Blog Posts

Challenging Forensic Evidence in Utah Sex Crime Cases

 Posted on March 28, 2024 in Sex crimes

UT defense lawyerForensic evidence is classified as criminal evidence that is obtained through scientific means. In sex crime cases, eyewitness testimony may not be available, causing the prosecution to rely heavily on forensic evidence. In recent years, advancements in collecting forensic evidence have allowed crime scene investigators to draw further conclusions from the data retrieved. 

While forensic evidence does offer insight into the circumstances regarding a sex crime, it does come with its own challenges. If you are under investigation for a sex crime, do not hesitate to reach out to our Salt Lake City sex crimes attorneys.

Forensic Evidence Examples

Locard’s Exchange Principle states that every time someone enters a physical space, something is added, and something is taken away. We fail to realize that when we visit a place, we leave a trace of ourselves behind. 

Common examples of forensic evidence include:

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Steps in a Utah Criminal Sex Crime Trial

 Posted on March 07, 2024 in Sex crimes

UT defense lawyerIf you are facing sex crime allegations, you may experience a tedious court process. Starting from your first court appearance through a pretrial conference, the various hearings are an attempt to settle your case before trial. The process will look slightly different depending on whether you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor.

Our Salt Lake City sex crimes attorneys are here to discuss the steps in a criminal sex crime trial so you and your loved ones know what to expect.

First Appearance

To understand the trial process for sex crimes, you must be familiar with the criminal court process in Utah. At your first court appearance, a judge will read your charges and apprise you of your right to an attorney. If you are charged with a felony, you will enter a plea. The date for a preliminary hearing will also be scheduled at this time.

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Are All Sex Crimes Felonies in Utah?

 Posted on February 28, 2024 in Sex crimes

UT defense lawyerSex crimes encompass a wide range of acts. If you receive a sex crime conviction in Utah, you will risk spending time in jail, paying steep penalties, and being publicly listed as a sex offender. A sex offense can ruin your reputation, destroy your professional goals, and even compromise personal relationships.

If you are facing allegations of a sex crime, you need a Salt Lake City sex crimes attorney to defend your interests.

Felony versus Misdemeanor

The main difference between a felony and a misdemeanor is the amount of jail time. A felony carries at least one year in prison, with a misdemeanor having a maximum sentence of one year.

Utah Sex Crimes and Penalties

Below, we provide an overview of common sex crimes in Utah and the potential penalties for each.

Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor

A person has committed sexual abuse of a minor if the offender inappropriately touches a minor that is four years or younger.

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DUI Convictions Can Disqualify You from Many Jobs

 Posted on February 09, 2024 in DUI

UT DUIUtah punishes DUI offenders harshly. What many people fail to realize is that even after serving time or paying a hefty fine, a DUI conviction can affect your ability to keep or find work. Even a single DUI conviction, with no prior record, can result in a person having trouble securing employment.

Understandably, it is important for you to take the necessary steps to avoid a DUI conviction. If you have been charged with a DUI, our Salt Lake City DUI defense attorneys want to hear from you.

Utah’s DUI Statistics

For Fiscal Year 2022, the Beehive State experienced the following:

  • 10,413 DUI arrests
  • 74% of arrestees were male
  • 37% of arrestees were between the ages of 25-36 
  • 71% of arrestees were first-time offenders
  • 13% of arrestees refused to take a blood alcohol test

Applying for a Job with a DUI Conviction

As part of the application process, employers conduct a background check on potential employees. Along with the previous schools you attended and your previous jobs, your credit report, driving records, and criminal history will also be visible. This will include not only convictions but arrests, even if you end up not being charged.

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Fourth Amendment Violations and Drug Charges

 Posted on January 30, 2024 in Drug crimes

UT defense lawyerThe Fourth Amendment guarantees your right to be free from unlawful searches and seizures. Even so, in law enforcement’s quest to bring drug charges against someone, a police officer may break the law.

You may be unaware if a police officer or detective illegally obtained evidence. That is why having experienced counsel is a must.

If you are facing drug possession, drug manufacturing, or other drug charges, our Salt Lake City drug crimes attorneys are here to help.

Rights Granted in the Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment grants the American people the right to be free of unlawful searches and seizures. To conduct a lawful search of your property, law enforcement must have probable cause to obtain a search warrant.

To obtain a warrant, there must be probable cause. To establish probable cause, there must be a sufficient amount of reliable evidence to deduce that the individual committed a crime.

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Should You Plead Guilty to DUI Charges?

 Posted on January 11, 2024 in DUI

UT defense lawyerMost people who are convicted of a DUI regret their lack of judgment. A DUI conviction carries severe penalties that will be a permanent part of your criminal record. With Utah implementing a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit than most states (0.05%), it is easier to be arrested for DUI than in other states.

It is crucial not to rush into a guilty plea following DUI charges. Rather, the decision to plead guilty should not be made without the advice of a Salt Lake City DUI defense attorney.

What to Know Before Pleading Guilty to DUI Charges

The State Must Prove Their Case Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

While the burden of proof in civil cases is by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that it is “more likely than not” that something is true, the burden is higher in criminal cases.

In criminal cases, the prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that based on the facts presented, any rational person would come to the conclusion that the defendant is guilty.

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How the Utah Sex Offender Registry Can Affect Your Life

 Posted on December 27, 2023 in Sex crimes

UT defense lawyerIf you have been convicted of a sex crime, there is a good chance that you will be serving time. Unfortunately, your punishment will not stop there

Did you know that most sex offenders have to register on the sex offender registry? Depending on the crime, you may need to be registered for life, with the requirement to re-register frequently.

Our attorneys are committed to helping people avoid the ramifications of being listed on Utah’s sex offender registry. If you have been charged with a sex crime, contact our office to speak with a Salt Lake City sex crimes attorney today

Trouble Finding Employment

Sex offenders who have been convicted of misdemeanor crimes will need to be registered on the sex offender registry for at least ten years, with offenders of more serious crimes having to register for life

Chances are that if you are listed on the registry, it is going to be difficult to find employment. Sex offenses will show up on a background check, which is conducted by most employers when you are applying for a job. Your potential employer will also be able to see that you are listed on the sex offender registry since that information is readily available to the public. Unsurprisingly, many employers are hesitant to hire sex offenders, and many offenders find it very difficult to find a job.

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When Can an Officer Arrest You for a DUI?

 Posted on December 11, 2023 in DUI

UT defense lawyerIn 2017, the Utah legislature passed a bill that lowered the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit to 0.05 grams/deciliter, aiming to avoid accidents due to drunk driving.

While a BAC will reveal if a motorist has been drinking, police officers also look for signs of impairment. Evidence of impairment can include anything from swerving between lanes, drifting, erratic braking, and even tailgating.

To keep you informed, our Salt Lake City DUI defense attorneys would like to discuss Utah’s DUI laws and what signs of impairment police officers look for when making a traffic stop.

Utah Blood Alcohol Limit

House Bill 155 lowered the BAC in Utah from 0.08 g/dL to 0.05 g/dL. Commercial drivers are held to an even higher standard. If you have a commercial driver’s license, the BAC limit is 0.04 g/dL.

A blood alcohol level may be obtained through testing a person’s blood, breath, or urine. Breathalyzer tests are notorious for being unreliable, with results indicating that people are drunk when they are, in fact, sober.

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Will You Go to Prison for a Sex Crime Conviction?

 Posted on November 30, 2023 in Sex crimes

Blog ImageA sex crime can follow you for the rest of your life, with some of the most severe punishments pertaining to crimes against children. Utah imposes lengthy jail sentences for sex crime offenders, recently increasing minimum prison sentences for habitual offenders.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is crucial that you hire a Salt Lake City sex crimes attorney to defend your rights.

Utah Sex Crimes Against Children

A sex crime is any illegal activity involving a sexual component against another person. New research signifies that Utah’s rape rate is 55.5 per 100,000 people, with one in five children being sexually abused before turning 18 years old. In light of these alarming statistics, the Utah legislature has doubled down on punishments for sex crimes.

Two Utah sex crimes against minors include:

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What to Do After an Arrest?

 Posted on November 11, 2023 in Criminal Defense

UT defense lawyerAn estimated 32,000 people are arrested each year in Utah. Following an arrest, you may not be aware of your rights. You may be agitated and think you have to answer any questions the police ask you.

Our Davis County criminal defense attorneys are here to provide you with an overview of your rights following an arrest and when you should contact an attorney.

Miranda Rights

If a police officer is arresting a suspect and intends to question them, then the officer must read the arrestee's Miranda rights.

Your Miranda rights come from the Supreme Court decision of Miranda v. Arizona. In Miranda, the defendant was arrested at his home and taken into police custody. He was interrogated by two police officers for two hours, after which he signed a written confession.

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