Orem saw a rash of car robberies this week when three teenage boys got bored, ditched school, and allegedly began to break into cars and take property. Ultimately they were reported to have stolen two cars and broke into more than 60 cars. Potential pending charges may include vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, theft from a vehicle, criminal mischief and…
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Property Crimes
Investment Manager Pleads Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud in Utah
Recently a Houston investment manager, Robert Andres, plead guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Salt Lake City. The facts surrounding Mr. Andres’s case are all too familiar in Utah. Allegedly Mr. Andres raised investor funds through his company Winsome Investment Trust to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. He allegedly misrepresented to investors how the investment…
Retail Theft in Utah and Challenging A Store Employee’s Search
The Utah Court of Appeals recently addressed whether the actions of store employees who detain and search an individual suspected of retail theft can be attributed to the government for purposes of challenging the search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment of the United States. In Orem City v. Santos, Elba Santos was charged with stealing from Costco. While Santos was…
Criminal Simulation in Utah
Antique Fraud There is a big market for antiques and some items can go for hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars. In the antique business one has to be wary of fakes. Remember the Salamander Papers in the 1980s? Producing fake historical documents, guns, clothing, and all other types of items is a big business. Have you ever…
The Death of Identity Fraud in Utah?
On December 28, 2012 the Utah Supreme Court handed down its opinion in State of Utah vs. Manuel Hurtado Rincon which raises the question of whether identity fraud in Utah is a viable property crime any longer. In that case the defendant made up a social security number so that he could get a job. The defendant did not steal…
Three Restaurants Robbed by Same Man
Earlier this week police responded to three different robbery reports on the same night. The business that were hit were a Wendy’s, a Subway, and a KFC, all in Salt Lake County. The customers that were in the restaurants all gave the officers the same description of the thief, white male, 35-45 years old, bald or buzz cut with a…
Couple Steals Grandparent’s Silverware
A 22-year-old Salt Lake woman and her 30-year-old boyfriend were living with the woman’s grandparents, when some things started to go missing. The grandparents first noticed missing silverware back in November, and then a number of other things turned up gone as well. In total the missing property totals around $4,000. The property was later located on a database of…
Midvale Councilman’s Theft | Utah Criminal Defense Attorney
This week a Midvale City Councilman plead guilty to obtain a plea agreement in regards to the theft charges against him. Wayne Sharp, who was elected into office as a city council member in 1998, was caught stealing parts and tools from a neighbors tool shed. Sharp was originally charged with three separate third degree felonies after he had broke…
Criminal Trespass | Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer
The Power of Property Ownership One of the great things about owning property is the ability to use the property in any legal manner a person sees fit. Property ownership includes the right to exclude others from using the property as well as prohibiting others from interfering in the use or enjoyment of property. This is why there are so…
Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
West Valley Man Is Sentenced For Killing His Father On October 31, 2010, West Valley Police responded to a 911 call and found the body of William M. Seager lying on the ground in a black garbage bag. William Chad Seager, the victims son and the person who had made the 911 call had said that he found the body…