Violent Crimes Lawyer in Utah
Partner with an experienced violent crimes lawyer to help protect your freedoms
Violent Crimes
Although they cover a broad spectrum, a violent crime is one in which one or more parties are harmed or threatened with violence.
Violent crimes, like any crime, can come with a hefty price tag in fines and other consequences. It should be stressed that getting charged with a violent crime doesn’t mean you’re a bad person — and it certainly doesn’t mean the end of the world. Oftentimes, it’s a huge misunderstanding between the parties involved, which is why it’s all the more critical to have a skilled violent crimes lawyer.
Of course sometimes it’s a little more complicated, but whatever the case is and whatever the crime is, Branson West Law is the criminal defense lawyer here to help build your defense.
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The Cost of Violent Crime
It’s not worth going into court unprepared. Instead, it’s important to not only have a capable violent crimes lawyer, but one that has built a strong defense and can either get your case thrown out or lessen the consequences.
The state of Utah takes violent crimes cases very seriously. If convicted of violent crime charges in Utah, consequences can include:
- Thousands of dollars in fines
- Multiple years of jail time and/or probation
- Pre-trial protective and ex-parte orders
- Strain on personal relationships
- Damage to personal reputation
Having a capable and experienced attorney like Branson West Law on your side can help prevent you from having to experience these consequences.
Examples of Violent Crime
There are many kinds of violent crimes that you may be accused of and charged for. Each has their own specific definitions and consequences. Some violent crimes are interconnected and depending on your history and extent of the crime, you could be facing some serious consequences.
Examples of violent crimes and what they can mean for you:
Assault and battery are two separate things, but they’re often paired together as they exist in the same space. Assault refers to the act which causes the victim to apprehend imminent physical harm, while battery refers to the actual act causing bodily harm. An assault can be a threat that is real or implied, while battery is the actual physical harm that accompanies an assault.
Assaulting an officer refers to the crime of committing assault against a law enforcement officer or a military service member in uniform. As in most states, assaulting an officer is a serious offense and a conviction carries stiff penalties. A first offense is punishable in Utah by up to a year in jail and $2,500 in fines. This charge is one that is frequently added to a list of primary charges, so the penalties will be added to any penalties resulting from any other related convictions.
A charge of assault can be considered as aggravated assault if the person is accused of using a dangerous weapon or other means in the assault that would be considered to likely result in death or serious bodily injury. This is a very serious charge to have against you, for if you’re convicted you could face up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Criminal mischief usually refers to illegal behavior that results in property damage. A criminal mischief charge can be considered a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the extent of criminal mischief, as well as if it puts other people's safety at risk. A Utah criminal mischief charge can carry penalties of years of jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.
Domestic violence is defined as acts of violent behavior committed by one cohabitant of a household against another. Most domestic violence cases are often caused by misunderstandings between two individuals that can be peacefully resolved. Domestic violence also covers a wide variety of criminal actions, such as trespassing on property and electronic communications. Because of that, charges on domestic violence become rather complicated since a heated argument between a couple that resulted in a broken plate is considered domestic violence.
Not all arrests are lawful or based upon probable cause. Still, an attempt at resisting arrest in Utah can lead to additional charges. It is also possible that an overzealous police officer might try to justify the use of excessive force by claiming that the person was resisting arrest. In Salt Lake City and across Utah, prosecutors will often add resisting arrest to a list of charges, frequently based on little to no evidence of actual resistance.
If charged with unlawful restraint, you must have intentionally or knowingly detained or restrained someone. There are many factors affecting an unlawful detention case including the state of mind of the alleged offender and whether the victim was actually detained or restrained. If each element of unlawful detention charges cannot be proven by the prosecutor, you should receive a “not guilty” result. Whatever the case, take note that cases of unlawful restraint are quite complex and should be handled by a more-than-capable violent crimes lawyer.
Fighting Violent Crime Charges Together
Don’t let one mistake ruin your life! You’re not the crime you’ve been accused of so why pay for it for the rest of your life? Having a capable and experienced violent crimes lawyer like Branson West Law on your side can mean these charges are dropped or disappear altogether. If we can’t get your charges dropped, we can certainly lessen the consequences of the charges, which could mean jail time is cut down or that you won’t even have to spend a single day in jail.
We will do whatever we can to make sure your life isn’t ruined by a violent crime charge. So contact us immediately if you’re being charged with a violent crime. The sooner we get on your case, the sooner you’ll be free of the stress and complications that these charges have brought to your life.
