Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Utah
Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Howard
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Can I defend a Utah DUI charge by pleading no contest?

Some people mistakenly believe that pleading no contest (or "nolo contendere") will somehow support their claim of innocense when facing a DUI charge in Utah.  Pleading no contest to a DUI charge in Utah has almost exactly the same effect as pleading guilty, and can result in consequences and sentencing just as severe as if you had pled guilty.

There are a few limited circumstances in which a no contest plea will be to your advantage in a Utah DUI case.  But these circumstances are typically limited to situations in which there may be civil litigation pending relating to injuries or damages alleged to have been caused as a result of the drunk driving.  Under these circumstances, a no contest plea typically cannot be used against you in the civil case, whereas a guilty plea could be considered as an admition of relevant facts pertaining to the civil case.

Unless you are facing both a civil lawsuit and a criminal prosecution, a no contest plea is often just another way to get convicted.  If you believe that you are innocent or have grounds to fight your DUI charge in Utah, you should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney before making any plea or accepting any plea offer from a prosecutor.

Stephen Howard is an experienced criminal defense lawyer based in Salt Lake City and practicing throughout Utah.  He has handled thousands of criminal defense cases - more than most Utah attorneys will see in their entire careers.  Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation.


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  • Selected Victories
  • Criminal Defense Trial AttorneyNot Guilty - Client was charged with aggravated assault for alleged attack using broken bottle as a weapon. Despite the testimony of numerous prosecution witnesses, thorough defense investigation to support a self-defense claim resulted in acquittal by jury at trial.
  • Criminal Appeals Defense AttorneyDismissed on Appeal - DUI case was dismissed after a successful appeal where the Utah Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's denial of the defense motion to suppress. Without the suppressed evidence, the prosecutor acknowledged that they did not have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial and the case was dismissed.
  • Utah Expungement Attorney Salt Lake Davis Expunged - Client with prior conviction for violent felony was ineligible for expungement through the courts. A successful 2-step reduction restored expungement eligibility and ultimately led to the court's decision to grant the requested expungement.
  • Felony Attorney Utah Dismissed - Client facing first-degree felony charge and possible life in prison for child kidnapping. Full defense analysis of the case revealed critical legal flaws in the prosecution's case. When confronted with the defense legal analysis, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the case outright without trial.
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Serving Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Cache, Tooele, Summit, Box Elder, and Wasatch Counties, and all of Utah.

Attorney Stephen Howard practices as part of the Canyons Law Group, LLC and Stephen W. Howard, PC.

Offices in Salt Lake and Davis Counties
560 South 300 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
952 S. Main St., Suite A, Layton, UT 84041

Call now to arrange for a confidential initial consultation with an experienced and effective Utah criminal defense lawyer.

In Salt Lake City, call 801-449-1409.
In Davis County, call 801-923-4345.

Stephen W. Howard, PC

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