Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Utah
Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Howard
Call Criminal Defense Attorney in Utah
Call Utah Criminal Lawyer
Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys / Former Prosecutors
Call 801-449-1409 now to see what our team can do for you.
Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer Salt Lake City

Criminal Defense Solutions Start HereSM

Finding a Felony Defense LawyerChoosing a Misdemeanor Defense LawyerDrug and Alcohol Crimes Defense LawyerWhite Collar Defense Attorney for Utah ChargesAttorney for Expungements Reductions and PardonsDefendant Constitutional Rights Criminal LawyerBail and Bond Alternatives in UtahReasons for Hope Facing Criminal Charges

Utah Forgery Defense Attorney

A Utah forgery charge can result in a felony conviction and up to five years in prison. If you are facing prosecution for forgery, you need an experienced Utah criminal defense lawyer with a record of achieving real results. Stephen Howard has successfully defended more Utah criminal cases than most attorneys will see in their entire careers. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation for your Utah forgery case.

Elements of a Forgery Case in Utah

Forgery is broadly defined under the Utah criminal code to include making, altering, signing, issuing, transferring, or a variety of other acts involving a written document. Generally, the most significant elements of a forgery charge are that the person committing the act had the intent to defraud, the person did something with or to a document that purported to be the act of another person, and did not have the authorization of that other person.

Bad Checks in a Utah Forgery Case

The most common Utah forgery case will typically involve someone who has tried to cash a bad check. But just because the check you tried to cash turns out to be fake doesn't automatically make you guilty of forgery. In order to convict a person of forgery in Utah, the prosecutor must prove that the person had an intent to defraud. So if you received a check in good faith, believing that it was legitimate, you should are not guilty of forgery.

If a person writes a bad check on his or her own account, this generally will not be considered a forgery. But Utah criminal law still provides penalties for bounced checks if the person writing the check either knows that their are insufficient funds in the account to cover the check or fails to make good on the check withing a required period of time after it bounces.

Passing bogus checks is not the only way to be charged with forgery in Utah. Other creative ways people have gotten Utah forgery charges include: signing someone else's name to a traffic citation; submitting as verification of court-ordered community service a letter where the number of hours worked had been altered; and making up their own modified divorce decree then cutting and pasting in a real judge's signature.

Penalties for Criminal Forgery in Utah

The maximum potential penalty for a forgery conviction in Utah is a 0-5 year prison term and a $5,000 fine plus a 90% surcharge. Prison is not mandatory. A judge may suspend a prison term for a forgery conviction and place a defendant on probation. In felony cases in Utah, a judge may also impose up to a year in jail as a condition of probation.

The severity of a Utah forgery case is often compounded by the addition of a common companion charge - theft by deception. If a person tries to pass a bogus check, that constitutes a forgery. If the person succeeds and get money or other items of value in exchange for the check, that constitutes theft by deception. Even if the person is not successful in passing the check, the prosecutor will often charge "attempted" theft by deception. Theft by deception may be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the value involved.

Forgery as a "Drug Crime" in Utah

Forgery is legally considered to be a "property" crime. But many prosecutors consider it to be a drug-related crime. The reason for this is that many people charged with forgery have an underlying drug addiction that is driving their behavior. If you are facing Utah forgery charges and also struggling with addiction, you need a Utah defense attorney who understands the legal side of your case as well as how to deal with the problems relating to addiction within the legal system.

Finding a Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing forgery charges in Utah, a felony conviction and jail or prison time are on the line. Stephen Howard is an experienced Utah criminal defense attorney, who has successfully protected his clients' rights in thousands of serious felony and misdemeanor charges during his career. His track record includes not guilty verdicts, dismissals, and many more successful results.

Contact us now to see what an experienced criminal lawyer can do for your case.
 

Best Rating
Make a Payment to Your Account
Get Help Now
Name: Email: Phone: Describe your legal needs here:
I accept the disclaimer below.
Disclaimer: No attorney-client relationship is established by the use of this form. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be submitted through this form. By clicking 'submit' I am only requesting that I be contacted for the purpose of obtaining legal services.

This form protected by reCAPTCHA.

  • Selected Victories
  • Criminal Defense Trial AttorneyNot Guilty - Client was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly pointing handgun at and threatening another driver during a road rage incident. Defense investigation and analysis, combined with effective cross-examination at trial indicated the alleged victim was the initial aggressor and suported client's self-defense claim. Jury acquitted client at trial.
  • Drug Crimes Defense Attorney Utah Dismissed - Client facing first-degree felony drug distribution charge and potential life in prison. Charges were based on allegations that client had sold drugs to an undercover police officer, then made a full confession. Successful mitigation work resulted in negotiated offer of misdemeanor plea-in-abeyance and ultimate dismissal of case.
  • 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.
  • Violent Crimes Assalt Defense UtahProbation - 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.
Best Utah Criminal Defense Strategy

The right criminal defense lawyer can work with you to develop a defense strategy designed to achieve the best results. Hiring a Utah criminal attorney with real courtroom experience and an in-depth understanding of the legal issues involved in defending against a criminal prosecution can help ensure the best...

Strategy »
Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Profile Utah

With decades of combined experience, our criminal defense team attorneys have the knowledge, skill, and determination to help you achieve the results you need. Facing criminal prosecution in Utah can have serious consequences. Choosing the best attorney to defend your case may be one of the most important decisions you will ever make....

Experience »
Conviction Consequences - Utah Criminal Defense

In Utah, even a "minor" misdemeanor conviction carries the potential for jail time and significant fines. A felony conviction carries the potential of lengthy prison terms and the various consequences that come with being labeled as a convicted felon. Never plead guilty without first finding out....

Consequences »
Utah Criminal Defense Attorney - Reasons to Hope

Never give up hope. Being charged with a crime is not the same as being convicted. And it is usually not the end of the world. While the consequences of a criminal charge can be serious, there are often several options and strategies for handling your case. Understanding your options and how an experienced criminal lawyer can help....

Reasons to Hope »
Home | Attorney Profile | Case Results | Criminal Code | FAQ | Legal Resources | Defense Strategy | Contact Us

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

The materials in this website are intended for informational purposes only, and are not legal advice. Viewing or responding to materials in this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Read Full Disclaimer.