Being charged with committing a crime is never an easy burden to bear. On the personal level, criminal charges can induce huge amounts of stress, anxiety, and fear. On the professional level, criminal allegations can interfere with your employment, and even result in the loss of your job and income.
In addition to the terrible personal and professional wounds that criminal charges so often cause, the consequences of a conviction are even worse. If you are convicted of committing a crime, you may be penalized with huge fines, months or years of incarceration, and an assortment of other devastating consequences. Depending on the allegations against you, you could lose your right to drive, your right to vote, and your right to bear arms. You could be required to attend counseling, perform community service, or join a public registry.
Criminal charges take a terrible toll on your day-to-day life, and a criminal conviction could ruin your future. If you have been arrested in West Jordan, it is absolutely imperative that you seek the help of a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as you possibly can. Skilled legal help can mean the difference between spending your life with your family, and spending your life behind bars.
Trust Our Skilled South Jordan Defense Attorneys
Prosecuting attorneys are specially trained to overwhelm defendants with aggressive and intimidating methods of questioning. Simply put, you’re subjecting yourself to an unfair fight if you don’t enlist the professional support of an experienced defense attorney. Criminal defense lawyer Darwin Overson will advocate tirelessly and aggressively on your behalf, and will ensure that your legal rights are respected both in and out of the courtroom.
West Jordan criminal defense attorney Darwin Overson has more than 15 years of experience representing Utah residents who have been charged with a wide variety of misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile offenses.
No matter what you have been accused of or how overwhelming your situation may feel, Darwin Overson has years of experience handling charges just like yours. Call our law offices at (801) 758-2287 to schedule your free and confidential consultation.
According to the yearly Crime in Utah Report assembled by the Bureau of Criminal Identification, in 2012 the West Jordan Police Department reported:
- 470 burglary offenses
- 944 assault offenses
- 2,282 larceny (theft) offenses
West Jordan reported grand totals of:
- 2,295 adult arrests
- 807 juvenile arrests
- 3,102 total arrests
Utah Criminal Fines and Penalties
Criminal penalties vary widely by offense, and the presence of mitigating or aggravating factors. According to the Utah Courts, common examples of aggravating factors include:
- A record of previous offenses.
- Proximity to a school zone.
- Causation of extreme bodily injury.
Common examples of mitigating factors include:
- Exceptional cooperation with law enforcement.
- Presence of a developmental disability.
In general, Utah’s legal consequences for convictions are harsh. Even the “lightest” criminal classification (Class C Misdemeanor) can still result in months of jail time and close to $1,000 in baseline restitution fines, not including potential surcharges the court may deem appropriate to impose.
It’s important to remember that criminal penalties may vary somewhat by court, and by the details of your charge.
- Class C Misdemeanor
Examples: Driving with a Suspended License, Public Intoxication
Sentence: Up to 90 days (jail)
Fines: Up to $750 - Class B Misdemeanor
Examples: First DUI, Simple Possession of Marijuana (less than one ounce), Shoplifting (under $300)
Sentence: Up to 6 months (jail)
Fines: Up to $1,000 - Class A Misdemeanor
Examples: Assault, DUI (with injury), Simple Possession of Marijuana (more than one ounce)
Sentence: Up to 1 year (jail)
Fines: Up to $2,500 - 3rd Degree Felony
Examples: Third DUI, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
Sentence: Up to 5 years (prison)
Fines: Up to $5,000 - 2nd Degree Felony
Examples: Robbery, Kidnapping, Perjury, Forcible Sexual Abuse, Manslaughter
Sentence: Up to 15 years (prison)
Fines: Up to $10,000 - 1st Degree Felony
Examples: Murder, Rape, Aggravated Burglary/Robbery
Sentence: Up to life in prison
Fines: Up to $10,000
It should be noted that many offenses can receive higher or lower criminal classifications based upon the circumstances of the alleged offense. For example, simple assault can be a Class A Misdemeanor or Class B Misdemeanor depending on other factors.
It is also important to remember that many offenses come with crime-specific penalties. For example, if you are convicted of DUI, you may be required to outfit your personal vehicle with an IID (Ignition Interlock Device), which acts as a breathalyzer and can prevent your car from starting based on your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content).
As the legal penalties show, there is no such thing as a trivial criminal charge. If you have been arrested, you need to retain the services of an experienced attorney right away. Call Darwin Overson at (801) 758-2287, or contact us online today. We are able to make emergency visits to jails and holding centers and are available around the clock, so call now.
