Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Utah
Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Howard
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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.

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.

Based in Salt Lake City, criminal attorney Stephen Howard has defended thousands of serious felony charges during his career.  His experience defending forgery cases includes victory at trial, dismissals prior to trial, and negotiating misdemeanor probation resolutions for clients who chose not to take their cases to trial.  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.


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  • Selected Victories
  • Criminal Defense AttorneyDismissed - Contractor was charged with theft by deception for allegedly misusing customer funds and failing to complete work that had been agreed upon. A successful motion to quash on legal grounds following the bindover order at preliminary hearing resulted in a complete dismissal of all charges.
  • Minor Possession Alcohol - MIP AttorneyDismissed - Minor in possession charge (MIP) was dismissed by prosecutor when defense analysis demonstrated that the police had failed to obtain necessary evidence against client. Police had raided a large party involving underage drinking. Several individuals were charged, but police did not obtain evidence showing that client had personally consumed or possessed alcohol. Case was dismissed.
  • 402 Reduction Lawyer Utah 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.
  • Utah Burglary Defense Attorney Not Guilty - Client was charged with second-degree felony residential burglary and facing potential prison time. Investigation by the defense revealed multiple witnesses, missed by police and prosecutors, who supported client's claim of innocence. At trial, the jury returned a "not guilty" verdict on all charges.
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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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