Salt Lake Defense Attorneys - Utah Criminal Lawyers

The criminal defense team at Canyons Law Group includes veteran criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard and former prosecutor Andrew McAdams. With experience ranging from aggravated murder to complex white-collar crime, felony and misdemeanor jury trials, appeals, and more, our criminal defense team has the skills and knowledge needed to help you achieve the results you need. Contact us today to arrange for a confidential consultation. See what our experience can do for you.

Stephen W. Howard - Criminal Defense Lawyer

Stephen Howard has successfully defended clients facing serious charges including homicide, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, burglary, forgery, drug charges, DUI, domestic violence, fraud, retail theft, and more. During his career, he has protected his clients' rights in thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases.

Mr. Howard began his legal career as part of the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, where he quickly advanced to the felony trial team.  His skill as a criminal defense attorney allowed him to earn a position on the capital defense team. He is now one of only a few attorneys now in private practice to have three times successfully avoided the death penalty for a client facing an aggravated murder charge. 

During more than a decade with the Legal Defender Association, Mr. Howard spent thousands of hours in the courtroom, receiving more real courtroom experience and dealing with more criminal defense cases than most attorneys will see in their entire careers. As a result, he offers his clients a depth of experience that is hard to match.

While Mr. Howard has represented clients facing some of the most serious charges on the book in Utah, he also represents clients facing a wide variety of misdemeanor charges. While a misdemeanor charge may not carry the same potential consequences involved in a felony charge, Mr. Howard recognizes that the consequences of even a misdemeanor conviction can have substantial and serious consequences in his clients' lives. He takes each case seriously, because each case is serious to his client.

With more than 18 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney, he is at ease in the courtroom, whether in trial with a jury, arguing legal motions to a judge, or negotiating hard against a prosecutor to obtain the outcome that his client needs. He is well qualified to provide skillful, vigorous representation to his clients.

Academic Background

Juris Doctor, cum laude
J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

Academic Honors

• Named to National Order of Barristers
• Awarded American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy
• National Moot Court Competition in New York City

Professional Affiliations and Bar Admissions

• Board of Directors, Utah Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Utah State Bar
• United States District Court, District of Utah
• J. Reuben Clark Law Society
• National Association of Drug Court Professionals (former member)
• Statewide DORA Oversight Committee (former member)

Andrew McAdams - Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal defense attorney Andrew McAdams is a Utah native with a national resume. His experience includes a prestigious internship with the United States Supreme Court, work as a felony prosecutor for one of the largest state prosecutor's offices in the nation, and years of experience working as a state felony prosecutor and drug court prosecutor for Cache County.

During his years as a prosecutor, Mr. McAdams was responsible for prosecuting cases ranging from murder to complex white-collar crime. He prosecuted drug trafficking cases, and pursued civil forfeiture actions. He was also responsible for directing Cache County's drug court program. Working now as a criminal defense attorney, Mr. McAdams brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the defense bar.

Academic Background

Juris Doctor
Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University

Bachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Utah

Academic Honors

• National Moot Court Team
• President's Award
• Dean's List

Professional Affiliations and Bar Admissions

• American Bar Association
• Utah State Bar
• North Carolina State Bar
• Arizona State Bar (inactive)

Shawn C. Condie - Of Counsel

Shawn Condie is a criminal defense attorney based in Ogden, Utah, serving clients along the Wasatch Front an throughout Utah. Prior to becoming an attorney, Shawn worked in law enforcement as a special functions officer, graduating from Utah's POST (Police Officer Standards and Training). He has worked as a court bailiff and and transport officer. He also has had the opportunity to work directly with some of Utah's justice court judges in the capacity of a court clerk. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous law enforcement and court employment to his practice as a criminal defense lawyer.

His years working in law enforcement and in the courts gave Mr. Condie a keen understanding of how the justice system should work, and how it can go wrong. He understands how important it is for someone facing criminal prosecution to have an effective advocate on their side. In addition to his practical hands-on experience in the criminal justcie system, Mr. Condie also has master's and bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.

Spanish-Speaking Lawyer - El abogado Condie habla español. Si su caso criminal se requiere un abogado defensor, él puede ayudarle en su situación. Él practica en todos los tribunales criminales por todo del estado de Utah.

Academic Background

Juris Doctor
University of Missouri - Kansas City

Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Weber State University

Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice & Spanish (Double Major)
Weber State University

Academic Honors and Activities

• Dean's List
• Merit Scholarship
• Midwestern Innocense Project

Professional Affiliations and Bar Admissions

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Utah State Bar
• Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• American Bar Association

Contact a Utah Criminal Lawyer in Salt Lake

With offices in Salt Lake City and Davis County, our criminal defense team provides criminal defense services to clients throughout Utah. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation with an experienced Salt Lake criminal defense attorney.