Does a prosecutor have to prove I signed a check in a Utah forgery case?
If you are charged with forgery in Utah, there are several different theories under which a prosecutor may pursue the prosecution. The stereotypical forgery case involves a person who fraudulently signed someone else’s name to a document or created a fake document. But many Utah forgery prosecutions involve people who did neither of those things. An experienced Utah criminal defense attorney can help you determine the best strategy for defending your case.
Utah’s forgery statute casts a broad net, covering anyone who, with the intent to defraud, makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues, transfers, publishes, utters, or alters any writing so that such action purports to be the act of another. Under this statute, you can be charged with forgery even if you never signed anything. Simply passing a bad check, without an innocent explanation of how you got the check and why you believed it was legitimate, can lead to a felony forgery charge.
The best defense attorneys challenge the status quo through ethical advocacy both in and out of the courtroom.
Under Utah’s criminal law, forgery is a third degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Often a prosecutor will file an additional charge of theft by deception if something of value is received as a result of the forgery.
Finding the Right Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing prosecution for forgery or other crimes in Utah, you deserve an experienced criminal defense lawyer with a record of real results.
Contact us now to schedule you initial consultation. See what experience can do for you.
A good attorney will talk with you about how your case can affect your job, education, family, and future.
