What You Should Know About Forgery Laws in Utah

Forgery Laws in Utah

Writing is such a big part of everyday life, that we rarely give it a second thought. 

When you post your thoughts on the Internet or sign for a package, you are creating a record that can be used for your benefit or detriment.

One of the most common crimes in Utah actually has to do with writing, and that is forgery. Under state law, forgery is when someone pretends to be another person using the written word. The forger either alters the text or creates new text as someone else. They may also say they are acting on behalf of the other person, when they are not.

Punishments For Forgery

Forgery is not taken lightly in the state of Utah. It is a third-degree felony. This means you can face up to five years in prison, and you may have to pay fines of up to $5,000. In addition, it is mandated by Utah law that the court orders that the materials that were forged be forfeited and destroyed.

What About Money?

Making your own currency and then using it is considered counterfeit. While there are a lot of federal laws about this, there is not a Utah law specifically addressing it by name. When people are arrested in the Beehive State for using counterfeit money, they are charged with forgery.

Let’s say you didn’t actually create the money. You just happened to carry counterfeit money with you. That is considered possessing forgery writing, which is also a third-degree felony.

Intent Is Important

Let’s say you write a work based on that author’s intellectual property. You then post it to the Internet. In other words, you create a work of fan fiction.

Under Utah law, this is only considered forgery if your intent was to deceive people. So if you are trying to pass yourself off as the original author, that would fall under forgery. If you’re honest, and you admit that you are just a fan, then you probably won’t get charged with it.

When it comes to carrying counterfeit money that you didn’t make, intent is also important. The person has to knowingly have the forged writing. So if someone gave you a counterfeit bill, and you thought it was real, you are likely okay.

Why Catfishing Could Be Forgery

Catfishing is when someone pretends to be another person online. The catfish will often pretend to be an attractive person or a celebrity and reach out to other people on social media in an effort to deceive. Sometimes the catfish is looking for money, but that’s not always the case.

So what if the catfish pretends to be someone who doesn’t exist? Is it still forgery? Under Utah law, it is. A forger can pretend to be someone real or fictional. You could create text pretending to be Harry Potter with the intent of deceiving people, and you can still end up behind bars.

A Famous Forgery Case in Utah

One of the most famous forgery cases actually happened in Utah. It was a man named Mark Hoffman. In 1985, he set off three bombs that killed two people. He did it to distract the public from forged documents that he made. The most well-known of his works was a fake letter by Martin Harris — a key figure in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — known as the Salamander Letter. 

That was only one example of his many forgeries. He also forged documents of Mark Twain, Emily Dickenson, and even George Washington. Hoffman’s deceptions and the subsequent killings became the subject of a Netflix documentary series entitled Murder Among the Mormons.

What To Do If You’re Accused of Forgery

If you find yourself charged with forgery, you will want to hire a competent attorney who can help you. This is true whether you are guilty or innocent. A lawyer can help you understand your legal options and ensure you get the best outcome possible.

The lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat have over two decades of experience behind them. They have represented people in all kinds of criminal cases, and they would love to help you out. For a free consultation, call (801) 532-5297.

Sources:

More Articles

What Is Intimidation in Utah?
When you hear the word intimidation, it might bring to mind a bully threatening to steal your lunch money if you don’t comply with their wishes. On a more frightening note, it could be someone in a gang threatening to inflict serious bodily harm. While this scenario can be scary for the victim, it can also be criminal in the state of Utah. In fact, it’s the seventh most common crime in the Beehive state.
Read More →
How to Check if There is a Warrant Out for an Arrest in Utah
The state of Utah has a simple way to check if there is a warrant out for your arrest. You simply go to this website. It was created by the state and is completely safe to use. Just enter your name, click search or press enter, and the website will immediately check to see if there are any matches.If a warrant has been issued, there are a number of factors that determine what happens next. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect, and why you might want the involvement of an attorney.
Read More →
law office in Utah
What Is the BAC Limit for Driving in Utah?
In almost every state across the US, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) you can legally operate a motor vehicle with is the same–0.08. However, that is well above the legal limit in Utah. In the Beehive State, it is not legal to drive a vehicle if you have a BAC of 0.05 or greater.
Read More →

Defend your case with the best criminal defense attorneys in Utah

Get a confidential case evaluation

Our office will contact you as soon as possible to arrange for you to discuss the facts of your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah.​ The use of this form for communication with our personnel does not establish an attorney-client relationship.