Categoría: Criminal Defense – ES
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State v Lightel, 2025 UT App 40
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…
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State v. Jennings, 2025 UT 1
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…
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State v. Jolley, 2025 UT 9
In a significant ruling on victim rights and evidentiary standards, the Utah Supreme Court held that alleged victims of sexual misconduct cannot be compelled to testify at a pretrial Rule…
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Case Brief: State v. Cooke, 2025 UT 6
The Utah Supreme Court ruled that Monte Cooke can be prosecuted under a repealed criminal statute because Utah’s saving statute allows ongoing prosecutions to continue. The Court clarified that prior…
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State v. Roybal, 2025 UT App 27
Facts: Roybal was convicted of attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. The conviction stemmed from an altercation with his then-girlfriend,…
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State v Johnson, 2025 UT App 13
In Utah, when a criminal defendant requests a jury instruction for an affirmative defense, the court must give that instruction if evidence has been presented providing any reasonable basis for…
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Case Brief: In Re K.M., 2025 UT App 17
Under Utah law (Utah Code § 80-3-409), when reunification services are provided, the court must determine whether the child can be safely returned to the parents
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Case Brief: State v Flores, 2025 UT App 15
The prison mailbox rule is for cases where a document actually reaches the court directly through the prison mail system.
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Case Brief: State v Taylor, 2025 UT App 14
Deference is usually given to trial judges but excusing a potential juror is a simple solution when there is concern of improper bias.
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Case Brief: State v Schaefer, 2025 UT App 4
This appeal pertains to whether a suspect’s admission at a police station should have been suppressed due to being made during a custodial interrogation without Miranda warnings being followed. Facts…
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Case Brief: State v. Johnson, 2025 UT App 13
In a significant decision for Utah’s self-defense jurisprudence, the Utah Court of Appeals reversed the murder conviction of Daniel Lee Johnson in State v. Johnson, 2025 UT App 13, citing…
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State v Kufrin, 2024 UT App 86
Facts In 2021, Michael Kufrin was convicted of having murdered his girlfriend Peggy in 1988. The facts leading to the eventual discovery of Peggy’s murder, Kufrin’s conviction, and the current…