CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR IN UTAH
Defending Adults From Serious Child-Related Charges
The law recognizes that adults are supposed to be a good example for young children and makes it a criminal act to engage in conduct likely to induce a minor child to illegal activity. While the legal definition of contributing to the delinquency of a minor is very broad, the crime is a serious one and its defense deserves the attention of an experienced attorney. Our team at Intermountain Legal knows how prosecutors generally approach crimes involving children and can use that knowledge to negotiate and advocate more effectively on your behalf.
What Does Contributing to Delinquency Mean in Utah?
The Utah Criminal Code considers it a criminal act for someone to knowingly encourage a child to commit an act that would be a criminal offense for an adult under state or federal law or local ordinance. It is not necessary for the child to actually be found delinquent. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Utah is a Class B misdemeanor.
The statute’s broad definition creates the potential for adults to face criminal liability for a wide range of conduct. Some examples are purchasing alcohol for a minor child, encouraging a child to commit vandalism and encouraging a child to break a local curfew ordinance.
The conduct that the child commits need not be serious in and of itself. Even an infraction — a minor summary offense — is sufficient if the child was induced or encouraged to commit it. A conviction, even though it’s a misdemeanor offense, can carry a fine and even jail time under some circumstances. It can also affect your position in any custody or visitation disputes, and it remains on your criminal record. It deserves serious attention from serious — and experienced — Utah criminal defense attorneys.
Call The Firm For a Free Consultation About Contributing to Delinquency Charges
Any criminal charge is a serious matter. We at Intermountain Legal understand how stressful dealing with even misdemeanor criminal allegations can be. We understand how important your case is to you and strive to make it clear that it is just as important to us by keeping you informed and safeguarding your rights every step of the way. We know the law and we know the process. Call our office today at 801-970-2800 or contact us online to begin taking control of your legal troubles.
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Intermountain Legal is located in Salt Lake City, UT and serves clients throughout all of Northern and Central Utah including Salt Lake City, Midvale, Sandy, West Jordan, North Salt Lake, Bountiful, South Jordan, Clearfield, Woods Cross, Draper, Farmington, Centerville, Layton, Ogden, Lehi, Provo, Orem, Park City and the counties of Davis, Salt Lake, Weber, Utah, Tooele and Summit.
