When you purchase anything—whether it’s as big as a house or as small as a laptop—you expect it to be yours forever. After all, the U.S. Constitution ensures that your property is protected. Only guilty people should have their assets taken away.

We tend to think of police officers as the good guys, defending the streets from lawbreakers. They have an important job to do, though it’s often stressful, dangerous, and thankless. Police officers are part of the reason we feel a sense of security and safety on a daily basis. For that, they deserve our respect.

As a society, we can forget that the men and women in U.S. prison systems are our parents, siblings, relatives, colleagues, friends, and neighbors. They face a wide range of charges and sentences. Some come from difficult childhoods. Others battle addiction or are serving time for a lapse in judgement.

Sexually motivated crimes carry serious penalties—not the least of which could be a lifetime dealing with the strict rules of the sex offender registry. With so much on the line, it’s important to know the laws in Utah around sex crimes. Here are four things you should know about sex crimes in Utah.

Staci joins the defense team as an experienced criminal defense and appellate attorney.

The United Nations defines domestic abuse as “a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.” In Utah, the legal term is “domestic violence,” and it’s defined as any offense that involves either violence or a threat of violence against a cohabitant. Domestic violence also includes specific crimes that the state lists in its code.

Under Utah code, domestic violence is defined as any crime that involves violence or a threat of violence against someone who lives with you. This can include your spouse, children, family members, and even roommates. If you commit a violent crime against any cohabitant, that qualifies for a domestic violence charge. However, you might not see the consequences immediately. 

On September 25th, 2024, Patrick Hayes was shot and left to die on a roadway in Wasatch County, Utah. His family was deeply disappointed to read the recent statement released by the Wasatch County Attorney’s Office. It is beyond frustrating that the County Attorney is declining to prosecute an obviously dangerous offender, and it is maddening that they are doing so based upon an incorrect reading of Utah law.

If you are charged with a crime, that does not mean all hope is lost. The United States Constitution has given you the right to defend yourself, so you are not considered guilty from the get-go.