The Crime of Custodial Interference in Utah
Child Custody issues in Utah are messy and are often hotly contested between parents. One parent receives custody of a child which makes the other parent extremely upset. Because emotions run high in child custody cases, the Utah legislature has passed a law giving parents protections under the criminal law of Utah. Usually, police do not interfere in domestic matters such as child custody, but the Utah law of custodial interference allows police to cite or arrest a parent or any other person who interferes in custodial time of a child. A Utah criminal defense lawyer from Salcido Law Firm can help those accused of custodial interference.
Custodial Interference Can be a Misdemeanor or a Felony
A person commits the crime of custodial interference when the person intends to interfere with visitation or custody by another person by taking, enticing, concealing, detaining, or withholding the child from another person who is legally entitled to have visitation or custody with the child.
Custodial interference is usually a class B misdemeanor but it is an enhanceable offense. An enhanceable offense means that a person who is committed of it multiple times can face a stiffer charge if charged with it again. If a person commits custodial interference and has been convicted of it twice in the previous two years, the charge will rise from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor. It can also be a third degree felony if during the course of the custodial interference, the person charged with the crime removes, causes removal, or directs removal of the child from Utah. A prosecutor may even file kidnapping charges too. Because the charges for custodial interference ranges from a misdemeanor to a felony it is important for those facing this charge to immediately contact a Utah criminal defense lawyer from Salcido Law Firm.
Contact a Custodial Interference Lawyer Today
If you have been charged with custodial interference, or another child related crime such as child abuse, contact a Utah criminal defense lawyer from Salcido Law Firm. Our attorneys know the law and know how to best represent you in your criminal case. There are different affirmative defenses you can claim in your interference case and our lawyers will find out what defense will work best for you. Contact our attorneys through email or by calling 801.893.1787.
