SEXUAL ASSAULT
Based in Salt Lake City, Intermountain Legal provides effective defense counsel to people charged with serious criminal offenses in Salt Lake County and throughout Utah, including sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault.
Understanding Sexual Assault Charges In Utah
In Utah, sexual assault occurs when a person intentionally touches a non-consenting person’s intimate body parts, or forces a non-consenting person to touch intimate body parts. If a person is charged with sexual assault, his or her actions generally did not amount to rape, object rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit one of those sex crimes. Nonetheless, sexual assault is still a very serious charge, usually classified as a second degree or even first degree felony depending on the circumstances of the case. A sexual assault conviction also requires registration as a sex offender, which can result in serious harm to your career and reputation.
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Unlike basic sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault does involve rape, object rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit one of these sex crimes. As defined by the Utah Criminal Code, a person commits aggravated sexual assault if:
- The actor uses or threatens to use a dangerous weapon in the course of a rape, object rape, forcible sodomy, or forcible sexual abuse;
- The actor compels or attempts to compel the victim to submit to rape, object rape, forcible sodomy, or forcible sexual abuse by threat of kidnapping, death, or serious bodily injury to be inflicted imminently on any person; or
- The actor is aided or abetted by one or more persons.
A person may also be charged with aggravated sexual assault if he or she causes serious bodily injury to any person in the course of an attempted rape, attempted object rape, attempted forcible sodomy, or attempted forcible sexual abuse. Aggravated sexual assault is a first degree felony punishable by a mandatory minimum prison sentence of six years to life, 10 years to life, 15 years to life, or life without parole depending on the unique circumstances of the case.
Seek Experienced, Intelligent Representation
Cases involving sexual assault give rise to strong emotions in prosecutors, jurors, and the general public. Our attorneys understand how to break down the bias against the accused through compelling arguments and zealous advocacy, making sure both sides of the story are heard in plea negotiations and trial. If you have been charged with sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault, do not hesitate to contact Intermountain Legal for a free initial consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
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