This year, a few select legislators are trying to get some action on moving the Utah State Prison complex out of Draper Utah. The main state prison has long sat at the lucrative Draper site near the point of the mountain. As south Salt Lake County and North Utah County have expanded over recent years it no longer makes sense…
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Utah Law
Judge Finds Ron Lafferty Competent For Federal Review
Photo Credit – Daily Herald U.S. District Court Judge Dee Benson recently held Ron Lafferty is competent, at least according to how federal law defines competency, to participate in the federal review of his sentence. Mr. Lafferty exhausted his appeals in state court and is now asking a federal judge to review his death sentence to prevent his execution. Counsel…
Attempt to Commit a Crime
In Utah you can be charged with a crime even if you do not actually carry out the crime for which you are charged. Sounds crazy, and it can be a tough pill to swallow but many people in Utah face just that kind of odd scenario each each year. It’s referred to as the offense of attempt and is…
Dealing with a High Bail Amount
If you have been arrested and accused of committing a crime, you will likely be booked into jail and a bail amount will be set by a judge. In setting a bail amount, a judge will take several factors into consideration. Chief amount these factors are your potential risks to the community if you are released and the risk that…
Valid Warrantless Searches
Generally speaking, a warrantless search is unconstitutional unless it falls into 1 of about 6 categories determined by the courts to be recognized exceptions to the warrant requirement. This article addresses the 6 exceptions to the warrant requirement and gives examples. If you have been searched, whether in your house, in your car, or anywhere else, and believe the officers…
West Valley Officers Now Accused of Stealing Drugs and Money
Following an internal audit of the West Valley Utah Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, certain officers have been found to allegedly stolen drugs and money from individuals they had arrested or investigated. An investigation by the FBI into the West Valley Police Department is pending. Additionally, Salt Lake County opened up their own investigation into the cases following dismissal of several…
Criminal Charges and Driver’s License Suspenssion
When people receive criminal charges they are usually prepared for the common penalties of possible jail time and/or a fine. Although both these penalties can be very serious, some criminal defendants find that the harshest penalty is the suspension of their drivers license. Some criminal offenses have mandatory license suspension terms while other offenses simply add points against your drivers…
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…
Mill Creek Canyon Flasher
Man Exposes Himself to Hikers Police are receiving multiple reports of a man exposing himself along hiking trails in Mill Creek Canyon. The most recent report stated that the man stood up from behind a bush at about 11 a.m. and exposed himself to a woman running the trail, the woman stated that he was completely naked. The man has…
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…