With some of the strictest drug laws in the country, drug crimes in Utah can come with severe and lasting penalties. Additionally, with more of the states surrounding Utah legalizing recreational marijuana, law enforcement is on the lookout for people illegally transporting marijuana through the state—even if it was legally grown and sold in another state. If you or a loved one has been accused of a drug crime in Utah, here are four things you need to know.

If you are charged with a crime in Utah, the process will follow Utah’s criminal procedure rules. These rules govern the series of proceedings through which the local, state and federal government enforces substantive criminal law. The rules of the criminal procedure vary widely in different municipalities and at the state and federal level. The expert legal team at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat have decades of experience with criminal procedure in Utah. We can help you navigate the rules and present a strong defense.

Knowing the laws around the statute of limitations in Utah can be crucial to your case. In Utah, even if the statute of limitations has passed on your case, you still have to bring that up as a defense in a timely manner for it to be considered. For example, if you enter a plea or go to trial without properly raising the statute of limitations defense, you might forfeit the right to raise this defense on appeal. For this reason and many others, it’s crucial for you to understand the statute of limitations laws in Utah. This post will give you a quick outline to help you understand the basics, but you should consult with one of our experienced lawyers to learn how the laws affect your personal case.

When you’re on probation, the last thing you want to do is take a step backward instead of forward, which is exactly what can happen if you violate your probation. To be charged with a violation of probation (VOP), your probation officer has to file an affidavit describing how you violated your probation. An affidavit is a written statement under oath that can be used as evidence in court. If you know or suspect your probation officer is planning to submit or has already submitted, an affidavit, a criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you come into compliance with the outstanding terms or help you work on a good defense.

Embezzling is when someone who is responsible for maintaining money or assets takes portions of the physical or digital assets for their own personal gain. This crime is especially relevant today as trillions of dollars have been put into Covid-19 relief funds that can be accessed by a broad range of organizations. For those struggling with financial burdens, taking a little off the top may seem far too easy. However, this type of theft is serious and can carry severe penalties.

In Utah, the Cohabitant Abuse Procedures Act defines the laws around domestic violence. The long list of definitions, enforcement rules, and punishments this law outlines can be a lot to take in. To make things a little easier, we pulled some of the main points and simplified them below. If you have more detailed questions about domestic violence laws in Utah, we encourage you to visit the Utah code website or reach out to one of our experienced defense attorneys.

In Utah, the sex offender registry also includes kidnapping offenders. Utah’s registry is called the Utah Sex Offender & Kidnap Offender Registry.‍The laws surrounding the registry are long and detailed. We have compiled eight common questions about the Utah sex offender registry in Utah and explained the basics of each one.For full details surrounding the laws and the registry, you can visit the Utah Department of Corrections and the Utah State Legislature websites.‍

In Utah, most traffic crimes are simple infractions, such as a ticket for speeding or running a stop sign. They aren’t punishable by imprisonment, but they can get expensive (up to $750 in some cases). However, if you have been charged with a more severe traffic crime—driving with a revoked license, drunk driving, or hit and run—you need an experienced lawyer who can help you protect your rights.

It may seem simple enough to open a car door that someone forgot to lock and grab the AirPods sitting in the cupholder. However, the consequences for vehicle burglary in Utah can be serious. In fact, as you’ll learn below, a judge could sentence someone to almost a year of jail time for a vehicle burglary charge. Whether you have been charged with a vehicle burglary in Utah or are curious about the vehicle burglary laws, here are four things you should know.