Rape involves an allegation of sexual intercourse or penetration without the consent of the victim. Utah has very strict penalties for rape and other sexually motivated crimes, including sexual contact with a 16 or 17-year-old even when the sexual contact is otherwise consensual—often called statutory rape.
Any allegation of rape or sexual abuse is aggressively prosecuted in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you were accused of committing the criminal offense of rape (Utah codes 76-5-402 and 76-5-406), contact a criminal defense attorney at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat, LLP, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat defend clients accused of sexually motivated crimes such as rape and forcible sexual abuse. We fight to protect our clients who are falsely accused of rape against the harsh penalties for sex crimes.
Call (801) 532-5297 today.
The statutory elements of rape under Utah law must be proven at trial beyond all reasonable doubt. The definition of rape is any sexual intercourse with another individual without the individual's consent. Sexual penetration, however slight, qualifies under the law, and it doesn’t matter whether the actor is married to the individual.
Both rape and object rape are first-degree felonies and carry a 5 years to life sentence. If the court, however, finds that during the course of the commission of the crime the defendant caused serious bodily injury to the victim, the court may sentence the defendant to a term of 15 years to life.
Additionally, if the court finds that it is in the interest of justice, and states the reasons for this finding on the record, the court may reduce the sentence to 10 years to life or 6 years to life.
Utah law provides that a prosecution for rape may be commenced at any time. In other words, Utah law provides no statute of limitation period for rape.
Resources for Victims of Rape Crimes in Utah
Utah has multiple sexual violence helplines. You can find those numbers and more information about statistics and resources for victims at the following websites:
If you are under investigation for a sexually motivated offense such as rape or unlawful sexual conduct, contact a criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat to discuss your case.
Our criminal defense lawyers fight false allegations of rape throughout Salt Lake County and the surrounding areas. Call today for a free consultation at (801) 532-5297.
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