If you or your child is facing a disciplinary hearing at the University of Utah due to an alleged violation of University policies or state laws, you need an attorney who understands both the University system and the criminal justice system. You need sophisticated, strategy-driven legal representation, whether you are appearing before an academic board or a judge. You need an attorney like Darwin Overson, founder of Overson & Bugden.
With over 16 years of experience representing college students and their families in criminal and academic proceedings, Darwin Overson possesses the knowledge and skill to protect your child’s future and minimize the damage a criminal investigation can bring. To arrange a free legal consultation, contact Overson & Bugden online right away, or call (801) 758-2287 to speak with a disciplinary hearings lawyer for students at the University of Utah.
Common Criminal Charges Against College Students
Located in Salt Lake City at the foot of the scenic Wasatch Mountains, the University of Utah combines urban and rural. As the state’s main public university, the University of Utah offers over 100 undergraduate degree programs, with a student body of more than 30,000.
There’s no question that attending the University of Utah can be the first step in a promising career – but a disciplinary hearing threatens to derail that promise, especially if the hearing is connected to a misdemeanor or felony criminal charge. Our office represents freshmen/first-year students, sophomores/second-year students, juniors/third-year students, seniors/fourth-year students, and graduate students in all types of criminal cases and disciplinary proceedings, including but not limited to those arising from allegations of:
- Arson
- Burglary
- Criminal Mischief
- Criminal Trespass (Trespassing)
- Disorderly Conduct
- Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Selling Drugs)
- Distribution of Child Pornography
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- DUI Under Age 21
- DUI with Drugs
- Graffiti/Vandalism
- Hazing
- Possession of a Controlled Substance (Drug Possession)
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Possession of Fake ID
- Possession of Illegal Weapons
- Rape
- Reckless Endangerment
- Resisting Arrest
- Revenge Porn (Distribution of an Intimate Image)
- Sexual Assault
- Shoplifting (Retail Theft)
- Simple and Aggravated Assault
- Statutory Rape
- Theft (Larceny)
- Underage Possession of Alcohol
What Are Some Potential Consequences of a Student Disciplinary Hearing?
A disciplinary hearing can lead to unpleasant and destructive consequences that can hold your son or daughter back later in life, potentially interfering with job opportunities, internship opportunities, work study programs, study abroad programs, student loan eligibility, scholarship eligibility, and ultimately, the student’s ability to earn his or her degree on time. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, the student risks being suspended from the University, removed from on-campus housing, or in the most serious of cases, even permanently expelled. All of these consequences can cost the student invaluable academic or professional opportunities – and if the violation involved a state or federal law, there can also be criminal penalties, which are discussed in the section below.
What Are the Penalties if I Am Convicted of a Crime in Utah?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, including but not limited to the following:
- How old was the student when he or she allegedly committed the offense? If the student was under age 21, the juvenile court system likely has jurisdiction over the case unless a special exception arises. For example, juveniles can be tried as adults in cases involving certain felony allegations. This is important for defendants because the penalties imposed in the juvenile courts, which are civil, tend to be more lenient than those handed down in adult criminal court. However, each case is subject to its own unique set of circumstances, making strategic representation essential.
- How was the crime categorized? Outside of capital felonies, there are six types of crimes in Utah: (1) first degree felonies, (2) second degree felonies, (3) third degree felonies, (4) Class A misdemeanors, (5) Class B misdemeanors, and (6) Class C misdemeanors. The maximum penalties for a criminal conviction depend, in part, on which of these categories the student’s offense belongs in. For example, the maximum sentence for a Class B misdemeanor is six months in jail, compared to 15 years in prison for a second degree felony. However, there are certain statutes that create penalty enhancements, which means that specific crimes are subject to greater than usual fines and sentences.
Disciplinary Hearing Attorney for College Students at University of Utah
If you or your child has been summoned to attend a disciplinary hearing at the University of Utah, or is under investigation for a criminal offense, you need to start reviewing your options with an attorney you can trust. To set up a free legal consultation about an academic hearing at the University of Utah or criminal charges against a University of Utah student, contact Overson Law online, or call (801) 758-2287 right away.
