Category: Criminal Defense
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Utah Specialty Courts
People with underlying mental health and addiction problems are not well served by the courts but Utah specialty courts can offer the help people need .
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Veterans Court in Utah
Veterans face unique challenges when returning home, and those struggles can lead to difficult encounters with law enforcement. With the right attorney and access to Veterans Court, real help and…
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State v. Dowhaniuk, 2025 UT App 100
The Utah Appeals Court has recently released an opinion reinstating the order for Jake Dowhaniuk to await trial on release with an ankle monitor. The original order was altered by…
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A Fellow Veteran as a Defense Attorney
Not long after I got home from Afghanistan, I was sitting on my neighbor’s porch – a fellow vet – and talking about readjusting to “normal” living. He understood me…
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Does Eating Make You Sober?
Myths and Old Wives’ Tales…. “I had a really big dinner so I’m okay to drive.” Have you ever heard someone say something like this after having “just a few”…
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Eclectic Lawyers
Does Having Eclectic Lawyers Matter? Years ago, we handled a case that hinged on an audio recording of an alleged fight. The prosecution claimed the recording captured a violent assault.…
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Can You Sleep Drunk in Your Car?
“If you get too drunk just sleep out in your car.” – Toby Keith, “I Love This Bar” Obviously, Toby Keith wasn’t from Utah. Does Utah Law Allow You to…
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Online Sting Operations and Enticing a Minor Charges in Utah
How Online Sting Operations Usually Work In Utah, law enforcement sometimes uses online sting operations to investigate crimes involving minors. Officers are trained to create undercover profiles on dating apps…
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State v. Dutton, 2025 UT App139
A Real Life Example Involving Probable Cause Facts of the Case In July 2020, a bank employee in Kanab, Utah, called 911 to report a customer exhibiting concerning behavior. The…
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State v. Qayum, 2025 UT App 178
The Utah Court of Appeals has affirmed a conviction for enticing a minor in State v. Qayum, a case that arose from an online sting operation. In doing so, the…
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Expungements and Reductions on the Cheap?
Good results aren’t cheap, and cheap results aren’t always good. Here’s what that means for your expungement.
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When “Free-Range Parenting” Meets Utah’s New Child-Torture Law
In 2018, Utah became the first state in the country to formally embrace “free-range parenting.” Lawmakers said parents should be able to let their children walk to school, play outside,…