Can I be criminally charged in Utah if someone else claimed all the drugs?
Criminal police investigations in Utah sometimes involve cases where multiple people are confronted by police regarding drug possession or drug distribution. On occasion, one person in the group will claim responsibility or ownership of all of the drugs, paraphernalia, or other incriminating evidence. Sometimes this claim of responsibility is the truth. But sometimes, a person will claim responsbility or ownership with the hope of protecting the other individuals from being arrested or charged with a crime. If you have been contacted by police in Utah, the best course of action is to consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer before proceeding any further.When confronted by police in regard to a criminal investigation in Utah, the safest general advice is to exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and to get a lawyer. If you do choose to speak to a police officer, you should not lie. Giving false information to a police officer can result in charges for giving false information, making a false police report, or for obstruction of justice.
When a person claims ownership or responsibility for drugs or other evidence of criminal conduct, it severely impacts the person's criminal defense case. And under Utah law, it does not provide any guarantee that the police or prosecutor will not be able to build a criminal case against the other individuals.
Depending on what other evidence is obtained by police, Utah law may allow other individuals to be charged with a crime. In a drug case, police may have evidence that one of the other individuals was making arrangements for someone to make a drug sale (distribution). Other individuals could be suspected of and charged with attempting to purchase drugs (attempted possession). Other individuals could be charged as an accomplice, and as such could face charges equal in severity to the person who claimed responsibility for the drugs. Even if the evidence indicated only that an individual was acting as a lookout, a prosecutor could still file charges against that person as an accomplice.
Based in Salt Lake City, we provide services to clients throughout Utah. Contact us today to arrange for an initial consultation with Utah criminal defense lawyer Stephen Howard.
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Dismissed - Charges of insurance fraud were brought when investigators found reason to believe that client's claim of injury was fraudulent. Client was seen kicking a soccer ball, and investigators concluded that the injury claim was false. By obtaining medical records and other administrative records, and by pointing out to the prosecutor that the alleged injury interferred with the client's ability to lift - not his ability to kick a ball - the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the case.
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Client facing first-degree felony drug distribution
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resulted in negotiated offer of misdemeanor plea-in-abeyance and
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2-Step Reduction - Client needed a two-step reduction to bring a prior conviction to the misdemeanor level. Collection of substantial evidence of reform and rehabilitation convinced a normally reluctant prosecutor to stipulate to the defense 402 reduction motion.
Probation - Client
charged with aggravated robbery based on allegations he entered a store with a gun and mask and demanded cash. Client confessed to police before hiring a defense attorney. Defense mitigation efforts resulted in a negotiated resolution that removed life in prison as a possibility, and secured a probation sentence from the court.
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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
Serving Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Cache, Tooele, Summit, Box Elder, and Wasatch Counties, and all of Utah.
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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