WHAT IS CONSIDERED A “VIOLENT FELONY” CRIME FOR UTAH EXPUNGEMENT PURPOSES?

WHAT HAPPENS IF I PLEAD GUILTY TO A VIOLENT CRIME?  CAN I EVER GET IT EXPUNGED IN UTAH?

Utah has very liberal expungement laws.  But there are some limits on what types of Utah criminal convictions you can expunge.

UTAH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS YOU CAN NEVER EXPUNGE:      

The basic list of criminal convictions you can’t expunge are:

(1).  a capital felony, first degree felony or violent felony (as defined in Utah Code 76-3-203.5(1)(c)(i));

(2).  felony automobile homicide;

(3).  felony violation of Utah Code Section 41-6a-501(2) (DUI driving under the influence);

(4).  a registerable sex offense (Utah Code Section 77-41-102(17)); or

(5).  a registerable child abuse offense (Utah Code Section 77-43-102(2))

LIST OF UTAH VIOLENT FELONIES THAT CAN NEVER BE EXPUNGED:

Here is what a Violent Felony means for Utah Expungement law.  If you are charged with a violent felony some plea bargain planning is your ability to get the violent felony expunged a later time.  Here are basic violence felonies in Utah that can never, ever be expunged:

“Violent felony” means:

The key here is the conviction must be for a felony.  If the original conviction is for a felony, but later reduced to a misdemeanor, it is no longer a felony and can possible be expunged.

(A)          aggravated arson, arson, knowingly causing a catastrophe, and criminal mischief, Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 1, Property Destruction;

(B)          assault by prisoner, Section 76-5-102.5;

(C)          disarming a police officer, Section 76-5-102.8;

(D)          aggravated assault, Section 76-5-103;

(E)          aggravated assault by prisoner, Section 76-5-103.5;

(F)          mayhem, Section 76-5-105;

(G)         stalking, Subsection 76-5-106.5(2) or (3);

(H)          threat of terrorism, Section 76-5-107.3;

(I)           child abuse, Subsection 76-5-109(2)(a) or (b);

(J)           commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, Section 76-5-109.1;

(K)          abuse or neglect of a child with a disability, Section 76-5-110;

(L)           abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Section 76-5-111;

(M)        endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult, Section 76-5-112.5;

(N)         criminal homicide offenses under Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 2, Criminal Homicide;

(O)         kidnapping, child kidnapping, and aggravated kidnapping under Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 3, Kidnapping, Trafficking, and Smuggling;

(P)          rape, Section 76-5-402;

(Q)         rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.1;

(R)          object rape, Section 76-5-402.2;

(S)          object rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.3;

(T)          forcible sodomy, Section 76-5-403;

(U)         sodomy on a child, Section 76-5-403.1;

(V)          forcible sexual abuse, Section 76-5-404;

(W)        aggravated sexual abuse of a child or sexual abuse of a child, Section 76-5-404.1;

(X)          aggravated sexual assault, Section 76-5-405;

(Y)          sexual exploitation of a minor, Section 76-5b-201;

(Z)          sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Section 76-5b-202;

(AA)       aggravated burglary and burglary of a dwelling under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 2, Burglary and Criminal Trespass;

(BB)       aggravated robbery and robbery under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 3, Robbery;

(CC)       theft by extortion under Subsection 76-6-406(2)(a) or (b);

(DD)       tampering with a witness under Subsection 76-8-508(1);

(EE)        retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant under Section 76-8-508.3;

(FF)        tampering with a juror under Subsection 76-8-508.5(2)(c);

(GG)      extortion to dismiss a criminal proceeding under Section 76-8-509 if by any threat or by use of force theft by extortion has been committed pursuant to Subsections 76-6-406(2)(a), (b), and (i);

(HH)       possession, use, or removal of explosive, chemical, or incendiary devices under Subsections 76-10-306(3) through (6);

(II)          unlawful delivery of explosive, chemical, or incendiary devices under Section 76-10-307;

(JJ)         purchase or possession of a dangerous weapon or handgun by a restricted person under Section 76-10-503;

(KK)       unlawful discharge of a firearm under Section 76-10-508;

(LL)         aggravated exploitation of prostitution under Subsection 76-10-1306(1)(a);

(MM)    bus hijacking under Section 76-10-1504; and

(NN)      discharging firearms and hurling missiles under Section 76-10-1505; or

(ii)           any felony violation of a criminal statute of any other state, the United States, or any district, possession, or territory of the United States which would constitute a violent felony as defined in this Subsection (1) if committed in this state.

UTAH 402 REDUCTION OF VIOLENT FELONY TO MISDEMEANOR

One legal technique is to move the sentencing court to reduce the violent felony conviction to a Misdemeanor Class A or B, thus allowing for a possible expungement.   The 76-3-402 process of the Utah Code allows a convicted defendant under certain circumstances to move the court to reduce the crime severity by up to 2 grades lowers.  So a 3^rd degree felony can be reduced to a Class A Misdemeanor.

UTAH EXPUNGEMENT LAWYER JAKE GUNTER.  I can tell you over the phone whether you immediately qualify for a Utah expungement.  Free consult.  Call/TXT (801) 373-6345.  The best money you ever spend is cleaning up your criminal record.