Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Utah
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Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer - Utah Criminal Attorney

Violent crimes prosecutions are taken seriously by Utah judges and prosecutors. When compared with drug crimes, property crimes, or financial crimes, many judges and prosecutors consider violent crime to pose the greatest risk to members of the community. If you have been charged with a violent crime in Utah, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side. Contact us today for an initial consultation.

Penalties for Violent Crime Convictions in Utah

The penalty associated with a violent crime conviction often depends on whether or not a weapon was involved and what injuries were caused. For example, an assault charge involving no injury and no weapon begins at the class B misdemeanor level (punishable by up to 180 days in jail and $1,900 in fines and surcharge). If a weapon is used or threatened during the assault, the offense becomes an aggravated assault, a third degree felony (punishable by up to five years in jail and $9,500 in fines and surcharge). If a serious injury is caused during the assault, the offense becomes a second degree felony (punishable by up to 15 years in prison and $19,000 in fines and surcharge). Many homicide charges are punishable by life in prison, or even potential capital punishment.

Finding an Experienced Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer

When you are facing prosecution for a violent crime in Utah, an experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference. Salt Lake criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard has protected his clients' rights in cases including murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, domestic violence, and more. He is one of only a few Utah criminal defense lawyers now in private practice who has successfully avoided the death penalty for a client facing aggravated murder charges.

Contact us today to schedule an initial case analysis and consultation with Utah criminal lawyer Stephen Howard.



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  • Selected Victories
  • Criminal Defense Trial AttorneyNot Guilty - Client was charged with aggravated assault for alleged attack using broken bottle as a weapon. Despite the testimony of numerous prosecution witnesses, thorough defense investigation to support a self-defense claim resulted in acquittal by jury at trial.
  • Criminal Appeals Defense AttorneyDismissed on Appeal - DUI case was dismissed after a successful appeal where the Utah Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's denial of the defense motion to suppress. Without the suppressed evidence, the prosecutor acknowledged that they did not have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial and the case was dismissed.
  • Utah Expungement Attorney Expungement - Worked to restore client's expungement eligibility through 402 reduction process, then filed successful expungement petitions in multiple courts obtaining expungement orders and clearing client's official criminal history.
  • Felony Attorney Utah Dismissed - Client facing first-degree felony charge and possible life in prison for child kidnapping. Full defense analysis of the case revealed critical legal flaws in the prosecution's case. When confronted with the defense legal analysis, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the case outright without trial.
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  • What to Do When Arrested for DUI What should I do if I am arrested for DUI? - Many DUI cases begin as minor traffic stops. But the consequences of a DUI conviction are much more serious than an ordinary traffic citation. If you are pulled over for a suspected DUI, you have specific important constitutional and statutory rights that can protect your. . . .
  • Utah Statewide Warrant Search How do I find out if I have an outstanding warrant? - If you believe you may have an outstanding arrest warrant in Utah, a criminal defense attorney can access the Utah statewide warrant system and help you find the best. . . .
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...

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Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney Profile Utah

Choosing the best criminal defense attorney for your Utah criminal case may be the single most important decision you make. The courtroom can be a hostile place. Prosecutors receive extensive training on legal and tactical issues. Having an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side is critical to defending your case and protecting your rights....

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Conviction Consequences in Utah Criminal Prosecutions

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....

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Criminal Defense Attorney in Utah - Reasons to Hope

Clients sometimes ask what the "worst case scenario" is for their charges. We prefer to take a more positive approach. Facing criminal prosecution in Utah can have serious consequences. But you can take steps and make choices right now that will improve your chances of a positive outcome. Let us help you....

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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

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