Can I resolve criminal
charges without coming to Utah if I live in another state?
As a general rule, if you are charged with a crime in Utah you are
required to appear in person to defend your case in
court. However, under some circumstances, if you live out of
state you may be
be able to resolve your case without having to return and appear
personally in court. Salt Lake
criminal
defense attorney Stephen Howard assists clients facing
criminal charges throughout Utah.
If you intend to take your case to trial, as a practical matter you
will need to be present to participate and assist in your own defense.
But if you want to reach a
negotiated
resolution, Utah law may allow you to waive your right to be
present and enter a negotiated plea by affidavit. Under the
Utah criminal code, a plea may be entered by affidavit if the case
involves only misdemeanor charges. If you are facing felony charges,
Utah Code 77-13-4 requires that any felony plea "be entered by the
defendant in open court." But in many felony cases, a plea negotiation
may be reached which involves reducing the felony charge to a
misdemeanor. In such cases, you may still be able to enter a plea by
affidavit.
Finding a Utah Criminal Attorney
As a
Utah criminal defense lawyer,
Stephen Howard has defended cases ranging from aggravated murder to DUI
and virtually everything in between. He has a track record that
includes dismissals, not guilty verdicts, and reversals on appeal. He
has assisted
out-of-state
clients avoid returning to Utah by negotiating resolutions
that have included
plea
in abeyance agreements, probation recommendations on
misdemeanor
charges, and
misdemeanor reductions on
felony
charges.
Based in
Salt
Lake City, Mr. Howard offers legal services to clients facing
criminal charges throughout Utah.
Contact us now to schedule
an initial consultation.
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