by Benjamin Keller | Apr 24, 2025 | Criminal Defense, Utah Appellate Court Opinions
This case involves an internet sting operation conducted by an undercover police officer posing as someone offering a minor for sex with adults. The Court of Appeals reviewed whether Austin had taken a substantial step towards attempting to perform sexual acts with a...
by Benjamin Keller | Apr 16, 2025 | Utah Appellate Court Opinions
Facts of the Case Lightel pled guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor based on his possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM or child pornography). An adult convicted of this offense in Utah generally must register as a sex offender for life....
by Benjamin Keller | Mar 20, 2025 | Criminal Defense, Utah Appellate Court Opinions
Smith was convicted by a jury at trial on a felony charge of rape. He raised several issues on appeal, including multiple claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, and a claim that the district court erred when denying his motion to dismiss based on destruction of...
by Benjamin Keller | Mar 3, 2025 | Utah Appellate Court Opinions
Facts of the Case Johnson and Chris were friends who regularly hung out at Johnson’s residence. One night Chris came to Johnson’s house, angered over a dispute with Johnson involving lottery tickets. Johnson’s son informed Chris that his father did not want to talk to...
by Megan Fowles | Feb 24, 2025 | Utah Appellate Court Opinions
Facts: In In re K.M., the case concerns a long-standing guardianship dispute over K.M., a minor. K.M.’s maternal grandmother initially petitioned for a protective order seeking custody in 2016, citing concerns over the child’s mother’s mental health. In...
by Benjamin Keller | Feb 19, 2025 | Criminal Defense, Utah Appellate Court Opinions
Facts of the Case In 2024 Flores filed a notice of appeal seeking review of a conviction from 2016 for sexual abuse of a child. Flores explained in a letter to the Second District Court that he had attempted to file his notice of appeal in November 2016 by depositing...
