Criminal Defense Lawyer Utah - Riot Charges
A criminal charge of "riot" in Utah can be punished by up to five years
in prison and a $5,000 fine plus a 90% surcharge. Stephen
Howard has defended thousands of serious felony and misdemeanor charges during his
career, with a
track record of
achieving real results for his clients. When you
are facing criminal charges in Utah, you deserve an experienced
Utah
criminal defense lawyer.
Contact us today to
schedule an initial consultation.
Elements of a Utah Criminal Riot Charge
The basic elements of a Utah riot charge are met if a prosecutor can
present proof that a person:
(a) simultaneously with
two or more other persons he engages in
tumultuous or violent conduct and thereby knowingly or recklessly
creates a substantial risk of causing public alarm; or
(b) he assembles with two
or more other persons with the purpose of
engaging, soon thereafter, in tumultuous or violent conduct, knowing,
that two or more other persons in the assembly have the same purpose; or
(c) he assembles with two
or more other persons with the purpose of
committing an offense against a person or property of another who he
supposes to be guilty of a violation of law, believing that two or more
other persons in the assembly have the same purpose.
Under Utah criminal law, riot can be charged as a
felony or
as a
misdemeanor.
The difference between a felony riot charge and
a misdemeanor riot charge can depend on whether any person was injured,
substantial property damage or arson occurred, or whether the defendant
was armed with a dangerous weapon. If any of those conditions
are met, the riot charge may be filed as a third degree felony.
If none of those conditions, the riot charge should be filed
as a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail.
Contacting a Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake City
Based in
Salt
Lake City, criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard
offers legal services to clients throughout Utah.
If you are facing criminal prosecution in Utah for
riot or
other criminal charges,
contact
us now to schedule an initial consultation. See
the difference an
experienced attorney can make in your case.

Successfully defending against criminal prosecution requires more than just an 'aggressive' defense. The best defense attorneys understand that a sophisticated defense requires a thorough understanding of a variety of nuanced legal issues, real experience in the courtroom, good negotiation skills, and much more. Fighting hard is good. Fighting smart is better....
Strategy
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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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