Posted on March 16,2023 in Criminal Defense

False confessions have been a perplexing phenomenon in the criminal justice system for decades. Despite the prevalence of DNA evidence exonerating wrongly convicted individuals, false confessions remain a significant factor in wrongful convictions. Research has shown that false confessions occur for a variety of reasons, and understanding these reasons is critical to preventing wrongful convictions. Today, we will discuss the possible reasons as to why someone would ever confess to a crime they did not commit. Remember, if you are charged with a crime, contact a criminal defense attorney to understand your legal options moving forward.

Why Does it Happen?

One reason innocent individuals confess to crimes is police interrogation tactics. Police may use high-pressure tactics such as sleep deprivation, manipulation, or even physical force to extract a confession from a suspect. Fear, intimidation, and coercion can lead innocent individuals to confess to crimes they did not commit to end the interrogation and go home. Moreover, some individuals may feel pressure to confess crimes to protect someone they care about or avoid harsher punishment for a lesser offense.

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 Posted on February 20,2023 in Sex crimes

Sex crimes fall into a category of crimes that are prosecuted extremely aggressively. As a result, many charged with such crimes are often assumed guilty before they are even tried in a court of law. And because of this, it is essential to take immediate action to protect your rights and to defend yourself against such charges. If you are ever charged with a sex crime, it is important not to panic. While you are certainly in serious legal jeopardy, there are defense strategies that can be implemented to give you a chance at beating these serious charges brought against you.

When charged with a sex crime, the first step you should take is to hire an experienced sex crimes defense attorney. An experienced attorney may be familiar with various defense strategies and will work with you to decide which strategy may help your situation. Today, we are going to review some of those defense strategies.

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 Posted on February 09,2023 in Criminal Defense

As you may be aware, probation is a privilege granted to individuals convicted of a crime but have been allowed to serve their sentences outside of jail or prison. Probation is a form of community supervision and comes with certain conditions that the individual must abide by. In Utah, probation violations are taken very seriously, and individuals who violate their probation could face consequences ranging from additional fines to incarceration. Today, we will discuss everything you need to know regarding probation violations in Utah.

If you have possibly violated your probation, strongly consider hiring a knowledgeable probation violation attorney who will work to ensure you understand your rights and have the proper guidance moving forward to avoid being sent back to prison or incurring costly penalties.

What Are Common Probation Violations in Utah? 

In Utah, the most common probation violations include the following:

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 Posted on January 25,2023 in Sex crimes

As is true in virtually every state in the United States, sex crimes are among the most severe offenses someone can be arrested for and charged with. This is particularly true when children are involved. When an adult is charged with child-related sex offenses, the police, media, and community often consider the alleged offender guilty of the charges against them before any trial has begun and, thus, before the defense has had a chance to present its case.

Being convicted of a sex crime involving children can quickly decimate one’s life and career. This is why it is imperative to retain experienced counsel if you are ever charged with such a crime to try to avoid the devastation a conviction will wreak on your life. A knowledgeable criminal attorney will work tirelessly to ensure your rights are protected while also pursuing a favorable case outcome.  

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 Posted on January 10,2023 in Sex crimes

In modern society, there is often a preconceived notion that sexual activity between a married couple is, by definition, consensual. However, you may be surprised that this is not the case. In Utah, regardless of whether you are married to someone, you can still be charged with rape if you engaged in sex through a means of force or coercion. Notably, the only instance when marriage protects against a rape charge is if someone is charged with statutory rape but was married to the underage person in question. Nevertheless, that exception only applies if the underage spouse consented to the sex.

In this blog, we will take a look at specific circumstances that often surround marital rape. It cannot be stressed enough that if you are facing charges of rape against your spouse, it is crucial that you seek out aggressive legal representation to have a chance at avoiding a conviction.

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 Posted on December 26,2022 in Sex crimes

In Utah, cases involving sex crimes are investigated and prosecuted with the utmost seriousness. However, the law involving such crimes can be confusing, especially for charges involving statutory rape. Under Utah law, statutory rape occurs when a defendant engages in consensual sexual contact with a minor who, because they are a minor, is too young to consent to the sexual contact. Moreover, the defendant must know or should have reasonably known the age difference before engaging in the sexual encounter. For this blog, we will delve deeper into what strategies are available for those charged with statutory rape.

At the outset, if you have been charged with statutory rape, understand you are in serious legal jeopardy. Being convicted of such a charge can land someone in prison while also requiring the convicted individual to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life, which can devastate someone’s life and career. Therefore, if you have been charged with statutory rape, do not hesitate to reach out to a knowledgeable sex crimes attorney who will work to ensure your rights are protected and that the most favorable outcome possible is pursued in your case.

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 Posted on December 08,2022 in Theft

 You have probably heard of the term “white-collar crime.” These crimes are generally non-violent, financially motivated, and involve unlawful access or stealing confidential financial information for personal gain. These crimes may include insurance fraud, identity theft, money laundering, embezzlement, or other deceptive business practices. While it is true that these crimes are non-violent offenses, that does not mean they are non-serious offenses.

Being convicted of a white-collar crime can tremendously affect one’s life and career. Such offenses can carry substantial fines and prison time. If you have been charged with a white-collar crime, understand that you could be at serious risk, even if you think you are not guilty. To protect yourself legally and pursue a favorable outcome in your case, consult with a knowledgeable white-collar crime attorney who can ensure your rights are protected and work with you to try to clear your name of the charges brought forth against you.

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 Posted on November 29,2022 in Sex crimes

Being charged with a crime can be a terrifying experience. This is especially true when being charged with a serious crime, such as a sex crime. Defending yourself against a sex crime charge is no easy task. Due to the severity of such crimes, the police and community may assume you are guilty before any trial has taken place.

To put yourself in the best possible position for a positive outcome in your case, there are several things you should do when you are charged with a sex crime. At the outset, strongly consider consulting with an experienced sex crime defense attorney. This is the first step you should take to help prevent the prosecution from securing a conviction against you. A sex crime conviction could mean decades of prison time and the lifetime designation of being a sex offender.

What to Do When Faced with Sex Crime Charges

When faced with serious criminal charges, besides immediately hiring an attorney, there are several other things you should do, including:

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 Posted on November 10,2022 in Sex crimes

 Sex crimes are often perceived as being amongst the most despicable offenses that a person can engage in. They fall into a category where, even if you are acquitted, being associated with such acts can permanently ruin your reputation. Moreover, the potentially graphic and disturbing nature of sex crimes makes it likely that cases involving such acts will likely be highly publicized, putting even more pressure on the state to secure a conviction against you.

Because of public outcry about sex crimes, and the current social movement towards paying more attention sex crimes and prosecuting them more aggressively, the state's aggressiveness to secure a conviction against you can sometimes infringe on your constitutional rights. That being the case, if you have been accused of or charged with a sex crime, you must get legal counsel as soon as possible. Time is of the essence, and the sooner you meet with an attorney, the sooner your defense can begin getting prepared.

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 Posted on October 27,2022 in Sex crimes

Utah is known for being a very family-friendly state, and its laws against sexually exploiting children in video and photographs are strict and highly punitive. The criminal record of those convicted of possession, creation, or distribution of child pornography can be devastating, requiring lifetime registration as a sex offender and the many unpleasant consequences that come along with that. If you are facing charges of sexually exploiting a child, get help from a Utah sex crimes defense attorney right away.

What is Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in Utah? 

The law that applies to the sexual exploitation of a minor specifically relates to the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography. A child’s parents can also be charged under this law for knowingly allowing their child to be depicted in pornographic images or videos. Even if the child was not actually involved in sexual conduct, simply depicting the child as if he or she were is against the law.

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