Sexual Activity Between Minors Can Also Result in Criminal Charges
The State of Utah has an obvious interest in protecting those who may not be mentally capable or mature enough to protect themselves from the actions of ill-meaning adults. This is why we have laws against adults engaging in sexual activities with minors. Utah, however, has also taken upon itself to prohibit sexual activity between minors of different ages and its prohibition is referred to as unlawful adolescent sexual activity.
The State has divided minors into the following restricted classifications:
- Sexual activity between 17-year-olds and 12 or 13-year-olds results in a third degree felony;
- Sexual activity between 16-year-olds and 12-year-olds also results in a third degree felony;
- Sexual activity between 14 or 15 year-olds and 12-year old is a class A misdemeanor;
- Sexual activity between 17-year-olds and 14-year-olds and is a class B misdemeanor;
- Sexual activity between 15-year-olds and 13-year-olds is also a class B misdemeanor;
- Sexual activity between 12 or 13-year-olds with a 12 or 13-year-old is a class C misdemeanor;
- Sexual activity between 14-year-olds and 13-year-olds is also a class C misdemeanor.
Unlike most cases involving juveniles, these type of charges are not eligible for nonjudicial resolution. That means that the prosecutor is required to file criminal charges against the minor and cannot simply refer it to the juvenile probation office to take care of it.
To read the entirety of the law on this issue refer to Utah Code 76-5-401.3.
Get Legal Counsel for Unlawful Adolescent Sexual Activity Charges
Juvenile sex crimes tend to carry more weighty consequences than other juvenile crimes and having an experienced defense attorney on the case is imperative. The state can be tough…too tough sometimes…on good kids who make decisions they didn’t even know were wrong to begin with. Those kids deserve a strong defense and our firm has some of the most experienced private juvenile defense attorneys in the state. Give us a call at 801-413-1753 to discuss.
