Utah Bad Checks Attorney -
Criminal Defense Lawyer Utah
Writing a bad check in
Utah can result in much more than a returned check fee.
You could be sentenced to prison time and thousands of
dollars in fines. As a
Utah
criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard
has the
experience, skill, and
determination to help you get the
results
you need. If you have been charged with check fraud or
passing a
bad check in Utah, call now to learn what Stephen Howard can do for you.
Elements of a Criminal Charge for Passing Bad Checks in Utah
In
a typical prosecution for issuing a bad check or draft (sometimes
called a bounced check), the person has issued a bad check knowing that
the check was bad when it was issued. Under a less common,
and
sometimes confusing, provision of Utah's criminal code, a person can
actually be found guilty of issuing a bad check even if he or she
believed the check was good when it was issued.
Under
Utah's criminal code, if a check is refused, the person who wrote the
check must make good and actual payment on the check within 14
days of receiving notice that the check was refused by the bank. If
payment is not made within that time period, criminal charges can be
filed. This 14-day provision can catch otherwise law-abiding
citizens by surprise, and has the effect of turning someone
who
has problems balancing a check book suddenly into a criminal.
Penalties for Passing a Bad Check in Utah
Issuing a bad check in Utah can be charged as either a
misdemeanor
or a
felony.
The
level of the offense is determined by
the amount of the check (or series of checks) issued. If the
total value is less than $500, the offense is a class B misdemeanor.
If the amount is greater than $500, but less than $1,500, the
offense is a class A misdemeanor. If the amount involved is
$1,500 or over, but less than $5,000, the case becomes a third degree
felony.
Passing bad checks totaling $5,000 or more is punishable as a second
degree
felony.
Finding a Utah Criminal Attorney in Salt Lake City
Based in Salt Lake City,
criminal
defense lawyer Stephen Howard represents clients throughout
Utah. He has successfully protected clients' rights in check fraud
cases as well as other white collar cases including insurance fraud,
securities fraud, credit card fraud, identity fraud, and more.
If you have been accused of passing bad checks,
contact an experienced Utah
criminal defense attorney now for an initial confidential consultation.

Being charged with a crime is not the same as being convicted. But just being charged can affect more than you may have imagined - jail, job, family, bills, rent or mortgage. It can feel like everything has gone wrong, and may you wonder if anything can go right. But facing criminal prosecution does not mean giving up hope....
Reasons to Hope
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