Farmington is the county seat and home to the Davis County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff, Jail, and AP&P offices, as well as both the Farmington District Court and the Davis County Justice Court. Farmington is the center of legal activity for criminal defense and prosecution in Davis County.
What kind of cases do you handle in Davis County?
Our team of criminal defense attorneys has extensive experience handling felony and misdemeanor criminal charges in Utah’s district courts and justice courts. We have successfully represented clients at trial and on appeal. We have filed successful motions to suppress for Fourth Amendment violations and dismissal motions for discovery violations.
We have worked with clients even before charges are filed to achieve no-file decisions from prosecuting attorney offices. Effective defense strategy has achieved dismissals, charge reductions, and probation outcomes for clients in cases ranging from serious homicide and sex-crimes to misdemeanor domestic violence, theft and property crimes, white-collar offenses, drug crimes, and DUI.
What are the potential penalties for a conviction?
Felony and misdemeanor cases all have potential penalties that can include incarceration — either jail or prison. The most serious misdemeanor charges have a potential sentence of up to 364 days in jail. Felony charges carry prison terms that can range from a 0-5 year indeterminate sentence for a third-degree felony up to a potential life prison term for first-degree felonies.
Most criminal convictions still allow for the possibility of probation instead of incarceration. Some charges have been designated as requiring mandatory prison or jail time. Having the advice and assistance of a good criminal defense lawyer is the best way to avoid worst-case consequences.
Will my case be heard in district court or justice court?
Two main factors contribute to determining which court a prosecuting attorney will file your case in: the level (severity) of the charge, and the location of the alleged incident.
The Second District Court is a court of general jurisdiction, with authority to hear both felony and misdemeanor cases at all levels. Nearly all felony and class A charges in Davis County are handled at the Farmington courthouse, even though the Layton and Bountiful locations technically would have jurisdiction over those cases.
Misdemeanor charges at the class B and class C level are normally handled in one of the local municipal justice courts or in the Davis County Justice Court. The exception is Layton City, where all misdemeanor level cases are filed in the Layton District Court.
The cities of Kaysville, Farmington, Fruit Heights, and West Point do not operate their own justice courts. Misdemeanor cases for these cities are usually filed in the Davis County Justice Court.
Criminal defense appeals from the Davis County Justice Court take the form of a “de novo” hearing or trial in the district court.
Hiring a Defense Attorney in Davis County
Looking for a lawyer to handle a criminal case in Davis County? Our defense team is ready to assist you in felony or misdemeanor cases locally and statewide. Our main office in Layton gives our defense attorneys easy access to all district courts and justice courts in Davis County. For clients incarcerated on criminal charges at the Davis County Jail, our location also makes in-person consultations at the jail much easier.
Talk to us today to see how our defense attorneys can help you.