Salt Lake Misdemeanor Defense Attorney - Utah Criminal Lawyer
Under Utah law, those criminal offenses punishable by one year or less
in jail are classified as
misdemeanors. As
an experienced
Salt Lake criminal defense attorney,
Stephen
Howard has successfully defended a wide range of misdemeanor and felony
charges in
Salt Lake's
district
courts and
justice
courts. Having an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your
side can give you the best chance of success in defending your case.
Contact us today to
schedule an initial consultation.
Successfully Defending a Misdemeanor Prosecution in Utah
While a misdemeanor charge is not as serious as a felony prosecution,
the potential penalties are severe and the case should be taken
seriously. Many of the issues involved in defending a misdemeanor
charge are the same as those involved in felony defense cases. Initial
issues such release through Salt Lake County
Pretrial
Services, bond hearings, and discovery requests are handled
in a similar manner. Constitutional violations of the Fourth
or Fifth Amendment can lead to successful motions to suppress evidence.
A thorough analysis of the defense case, and the experience to
anticipate issues in the prosecution's case can be critical to
determining whether to take your case to trial or attempt to reach a
negotiated resolution.
Potential Penalties in a Salt Lake Misdemeanor Case
While misdemeanor charges are less serious as felony charges, the
consequences
of a misdemeanor conviction can still be significant. Class A
misdemeanors are punishable by up to a year in jail; class B charges
carry a potential penalty of 180 days jail; and class C charges can be
punished with up to 90 days in jail. Fines imposed in a misdemeanor
case ca be up to $2500 plus an additional 90% surcharge. In addition
to jail time and fines, certain misdemeanor convictions may also affect
your driver license, your right to carry or possess firearms, and more.
Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt Lake
Stephen Howard has defended thousands of
felony
and misdemeanor charges
during his career. His experience in protecting his clients' rights
ranges from murder case to
bounced
check charges, and virtually everything in between. Whether
you intend to take your case to
trial,
or you plan to work toward a
negotiated
resolution in your
case, Stephen Howard has the experience necessary to help you.
Based in Salt Lake City,
criminal
defense lawyer Stephen Howard is pleased to offer services to
clients throughout Utah.
Contact
us today to
schedule an initial consultation.

Jail time, prison time, thousands of dollars in fines, and the lifetime collateral consequences of having a criminal conviction on your record - all of these and more are at stake when you are facing criminal prosecution in Utah. Understanding what is at risk is critical. Even so-called "minor" misdemeanor cases can have serious consequences....
Consequences
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