Posted on August 12, 2025 in Sex crimes

In the age of everything digital, even sexual consent has gone high-tech. Apps that allow two people to document mutual consent before being intimate are being marketed as a way to prevent misunderstandings or even criminal charges.

These apps are commonly referred to as "consent apps." Especially in a conservative state like Utah, does an app offer valid legal protection? If you think using a consent app protects you, there are things you should know.

Consulting with a knowledgeable Salt Lake City, UT, criminal defense lawyer can help you understand the limitations of consent apps. If you are being charged with a sex crime despite consent through an app, your attorney can determine whether the app can really help your defense.  

What Are Consent Apps?

Consent apps are specifically marketed for college students and those who use dating apps, but can be used by anyone who fears false allegations of rape, sexual assault, or another sex crime. Some of the most common consent apps include We-Consent, LegalFling, Consentify, and SaSie.

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 Posted on July 29, 2025 in Sex crimes

Sex crime allegations are always serious, but when they arise in the middle of a custody battle or divorce in Utah, they can be life-altering. Suddenly, criminal allegations spill over into family court, threatening not only your freedom, but also your reputation, your parental rights, and even potentially the division of marital assets during a divorce, as well as the payment of spousal support. Even when the charges are exaggerated or completely false, it may not matter in family court.

The family law system in Utah does not wait for a criminal conviction before acting to "protect the child" in custody issues or make decisions in a divorce. Unfortunately, sex crime allegations often emerge during divorce, separation, and custody battles. Utah family courts tend to take a "better safe than sorry" approach, leaving you with immediate, adverse consequences before the criminal matter is even completed. It is important that you first speak with an experienced Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney, then discuss the issue with your family law attorney.

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 Posted on July 09, 2025 in Sex crimes

If you are required to register with the Utah Sex Offender Registry, virtually every part of your life is affected by this requirement. Where you are able to live and work is affected by sex offender registration, not to mention your reputation and personal relationships. In some cases, Utah law allows a person required to register as a sex offender to petition for early removal from the registry.

If you are seeking a second chance and you are eligible for early removal from the Utah sex offender registry, it is important that you understand the legal requirements and the process. A Salt Lake City, UT sex crimes lawyer can help you determine whether you are eligible for removal from the sex offender registry and, if so, how to go about doing so.   

How Long Must Individuals Remain on the Utah Sex Offender Registry?

The time you are required to remain on the sex offender registry in Utah depends on the severity of your offense and whether the offense is your first or subsequent offense. You must register for either 10 years or for life following the completion of your sentence.

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 Posted on June 24, 2025 in Drug crimes

In June 2025, more than a dozen drug charges were filed against a female Utah life coach who allegedly sold illegal substances to clients. After receiving a tip from a confidential source that the life coach was growing and selling "magic" mushrooms, police raided a storage unit and the home of the woman.

More than 170 units of MDMA, 40 pills containing psilocybin (magic mushrooms), one bottle of LSD, and 10 units of DMT or dimethyltryptamine were found. Firearms were also found. The woman now faces charges of possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. If you are facing drug charges, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable Salt Lake City, UT criminal defense lawyer.

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 Posted on June 10, 2025 in Criminal Defense

If you are arrested on suspicion of a criminal offense and are sitting across from law enforcement being questioned, you may feel as if asking for a lawyer will only make you look guilty of the crime. And, in truth, when you assert your right to an attorney, law enforcement is likely to look at you as though you must be guilty. The police may even say to you that you do not need a lawyer if you have nothing to hide.

None of those things should be your concern at this point. Regardless of how law enforcement views your choice to speak to an attorney, it is a decision that can make a significant difference in the outcome of your charges. The right to an attorney is guaranteed by our Constitution; it protects you, and it is one of the smartest choices you can make if you are under investigation or charged with a crime.

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 Posted on May 23, 2025 in DUI

A Sandy, Utah woman with seven prior DUI arrests was recently arrested for the eighth time. Two of her prior DUI arrests were felony DUIs. During the stop, the woman’s BAC was .265, more than five times the legal limit in Utah. Open containers of alcohol, along with numerous pill bottles containing "impairing" medications, were also found. The woman was arrested and remains in jail without bail.

Obviously, DUI convictions – both a first offense and subsequent offenses – are extremely serious in Utah. If you are facing DUI charges, it is important that you speak to a Salt Lake City, UT DUI lawyer who can prepare a comprehensive defense based on the facts and circumstances surrounding your arrest.

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 Posted on May 08, 2025 in Sex crimes

Currently, in the state of Utah, parents who want to remove their child from public school and homeschool must sign an affidavit, swearing they have never been convicted or credibly accused of child abuse. If a parent could not do this, he or she was not allowed to homeschool. Some school districts took the issue further and began conducting background checks on parents who pulled their children from public school to homeschool.

The response was that many parents felt like these background checks were a huge invasion of their privacy. In January 2025, HB209 was introduced. This bill would entirely remove the requirement that the parents sign an affidavit, and would also prohibit background checks by the schools. There are proponents and opponents of the new bill.

Opponents point to two recent high-profile examples of Utah parents who took their children out of public school to homeschool and then abused them. One child died from organ failure after prolonged abuse; if the child had been in public school, his death could have potentially been prevented. Proponents of the bill say laws related to child abuse should remain in Utah’s criminal law rather than in homeschooling permissions.

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 Posted on April 25, 2025 in Sex crimes

If you are facing charges for a sex crime, it is important that you recognize the many ways in which sex crimes are different from other criminal offenses. Prosecutors and law enforcement are more aggressive when dealing with sex crimes, and the legal penalties are usually much more severe. If the sex crime involves a child, all the negative aspects can be multiplied exponentially.

Legal penalties are not the only serious, adverse aspects of sex crimes; there are also many collateral consequences. If you are facing sex crime charges, having a strong, experienced Salt Lake City, UT criminal defense attorney by your side is the best thing you can do to ensure your rights and your future are protected to the extent possible.

What Makes Sex Crimes Different?

In addition to potentially overzealous law enforcement and prosecutors, perhaps the main reason sex crime charges are different from other felony offenses is that society tends to view sex crimes as the worst of the worst. This means that even when a person is innocent of the charges, the court of public opinion will try to convict him or her before there is even a trial. Family members, co-workers, and neighbors may all look at those accused of a sex crime differently (and not in a good way).  

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 Posted on April 07, 2025 in Sex crimes

Voyeurism involves watching and recording others in private moments – without the consent or knowledge of the victims – to derive sexual pleasure. Voyeurism is more likely to occur in males than females (3:1) and is more common than many people believe.

About 12 percent of males in a large study and 4 percent of females reported at least one episode of voyeuristic behavior. If voyeurism is ongoing and occurs more and more frequently, it can be classified as Voyeuristic Disorder, which often occurs alongside other conditions like substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.  

While the legal consequences for a voyeurism conviction may not appear all that severe at first glance – especially when compared with the penalties for other sex crimes - voyeurism charges can easily become more serious charges. To avoid the escalation of voyeurism charges, it is important to speak to an experienced Salt Lake City, UT criminal defense lawyer.

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 Posted on March 24, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Providing alcohol to a minor is a serious criminal offense in Utah, and a conviction can carry significant legal consequences. While this charge alone can have lasting effects, it can also be linked to more severe charges such as DUI or sex crimes. If you are facing such allegations, speak with a qualified Utah criminal defense lawyer to understand how best to address them.

What Does Utah Law Say About Providing Alcohol to a Minor?

Under Utah law, it is illegal for an adult to provide, sell, or furnish alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. This includes directly giving alcohol to a minor or knowingly allowing a minor to consume alcohol on your property. Doing so can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor, which can result in up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,500. A conviction can also lead to community service, mandatory alcohol education programs, and even the suspension of your driving privileges.

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