Utah Theft Attorney - Salt Lake Criminal Defense Lawyer
A conviction for theft in Utah can result in
jail or prison time, plus thousands of dollars in fines.
If you are charged with criminal theft, having an experienced
Utah criminal defense lawyer
on your side can give you the best
chance of success in your case. Stephen
Howard has handled literally thousands of serious criminal cases during
his career. His
record includes not guilty
verdicts, dismissals, and appellate reversals on some of the most
serious charges on the books in Utah.
Contact us today for an
initial consultation and analysis of your Utah theft case.
Penalties for a Utah Theft Conviction

Value
is one of the main factors that determines the level of offense
charged in many Utah property crimes cases, including
theft. If the items allegedly taken are
valued
at less than $500, charges will typically be filed at a class B
misdemeanor
level (180 days jail). If the items are valued at
more than $500 but
less than $1500, the case can be filed as a class A misdemeanor (365
days jail). If the value is at least $1500 but less than
$5000, the case
will
be filed as a third degree
felony
(0-5 years prison). And anything $5000 or over can
result
in a second
degree felony (1-15 years prison).
But value is not the only factor used to determine
the level of a Utah theft charge. Theft of a firearm or
motor vehicle
theft can increase the charge to a second
degree felony regardless of the value of the item. Similarly,
if any item
is
taken "from a person" (meaning from the immediate presence of a
person), a charge of theft from a person can be filed as a second
degree felony, regardless
of value of the property.
Utah Theft Enhancements
Defending your Utah theft case right the first time is especially
important because Utah
theft charges are enhanceable. That means that the penalties
for subsequent theft charges in Utah can be enhanced to a felony charge
even for petty theft. Previous versions of the Utah Code for theft provided for a felony
enhancement for any theft, regardless of the value of the property
involved, if the person charged had been previously convicted of
property crimes including
robbery,
burglary
with the intent to commit a theft, or a
fraud
charge. The current version of the Utah criminal code still provides
enhancements based on prior convictions, but the rules used to
determine when the enhancements may apply are now more complicated.
(Learn more about
theft enhancements here.)
Kinds of Theft Charges in Utah
Utah's criminal code contains several variations of theft: simple
theft,
theft
by
deception, theft of services, theft by extortion, theft of
lost or
mislaid property,
retail
theft (shoplifting),
vehicle theft,
theft of a
firearm, theft of utility or cable television services, theft of fuel,
theft from a person,
joyriding,
wrongful appropriation,
theft
by receiving stolen property,
theft by
rental agreement, and theft of a rental
vehicle. Except for cases involving a vehicle or firearm, the severity
of most of these theft offenses will be determined by the value of the
property taken.
Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah
Whether you are charged with a
felony or
a
misdemeanor,
having an
experienced and effective
defense attorney on
your side can be critical to obtaining the results you need.
Based in Salt Lake City,
criminal
defense attorney Stephen Howard has
extensive experience representing people
charged with theft and other property crimes. He has a
record
of achieving real results for
his clients.
Contact us now to
schedule an initial consultation and case analysis.