by Megan Fowles | Apr 14, 2025 | Criminal Defense
Facts: Deon Jennings was charged with first-degree murder after stabbing Willie Houston twice in the back, resulting in Houston’s death. Jennings argued at a bail hearing that he should be released because the State had not presented “substantial evidence to support...
by Megan Fowles | Apr 14, 2025 | Criminal Defense
Utah Supreme Court Clarifies Rape Shield Rule: Victims Cannot Be Compelled to Testify at Pretrial Hearings Under Rule 412 The decision, issued in State v. Jolley, 2025 UT 9, clarifies the scope of Utah’s rape shield law and sets a precedent for how trial courts must...
by Megan Fowles | Apr 14, 2025 | Criminal Defense, Estate Planning - Wills & Trusts
What Is an Advance Healthcare Directive? It’s a written, legally binding document that does two things: Appoints a healthcare agent to make decisions for you if you’re incapacitated. States your medical care preferences—for example, whether you want life-sustaining...
by Megan Fowles | Apr 10, 2025 | Criminal Defense
While the goal is to catch predators, many of those arrested say they were baited into conversations they didn’t start or didn’t believe the person was really a minor. That’s where things get complicated. What Is “Enticing a Minor” Under...
by Megan Fowles | Apr 9, 2025 | Criminal Defense
What Is Self-Defense Under Utah Law? Under Utah Code §76-2-402, self-defense is legally justified when an individual reasonably believes that force is necessary to prevent another person’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, the amount of force used must be...
by Megan Fowles | Apr 7, 2025 | Criminal Defense
Facts: In 2016, Monte K. Cooke crashed his semitruck on I-15 in Utah County, killing one person and seriously injuring another. A blood test revealed methamphetamine in his system, and investigators believed Cooke fell asleep at the wheel after exceeding federally...
