UTAH CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY JAKE GUNTER CALL/TXT (801) 373-6345There is little more satisfying legal work then helping someone expunge or reduce their felony convictions to misdemeanors. Not being a convicted felon has so many advantages in society. Employment, voting, gun rights, finances and housing to name a few perks.
The easiest felonies to reduce to misdemeanors are third degree felonies not involving child abuse or sex offense registries. So long as you have paid all your restitution and the case closed successfully, you have a really good chance at reducing your felony 1-step to a misdemeanor.
Even people where used to be on the child abuse or sexual offense registries, but are no longer, can file for a reduction on their felony. DUIs are fair game to reduce to a misdemeanor are reduced all the time.
Utah Code 76-3-402 allows 1-step and 2-step reductions on your criminal convictions. 2-step reductions require the prosecutor to agree, which is difficult to do. Reductions motions can be filed at sentencing, but are most often filed post sentencing.
Example. Provo, Utah Dealings in Harmful Materials to a Minor. Felony 3. You did your time, you paid all fines and restitution and your case closed successfully. Running a motion to reduce your felony 1-step to misdemeanor “A” really clears up your name and civil rights. So worth it.
See the current and old law below.
Effective 5/5/2021 76-3-402. Conviction of lower degree of offense — Procedure and limitations.
OLD LAW PRIOR TO 05/2021 DIDN’T ALLOW FOR A REDUCTION IF YOU WENT TO JAIL OR PRISON.
OLD LAW 76-3-402 BIG IMPORTANT CHANGES UNDERLINED.
76-3-402. Conviction of lower degree of offense — Procedure and limitations.
28 1) As used in this section, “lower degree of offense” includes an offense for which:
29a) a statutory enhancement is charged in the information or indictment that would
30 increase either the maximum or the minimum sentence; and
31 (b) the court removes the statutory enhancement in accordance with this section.
32 (2) The court may enter a judgment of conviction for a lower degree of offense than
33 established by statute and impose a sentence at the time of sentencing for the lower degree of
34 offense if the court:
35 (a) takes into account:
36 (i) the nature and circumstances of the offense of which the defendant was found
37 guilty; and
38 (ii) the history and character of the defendant;
39 (b) gives any victim present at the sentencing and the prosecuting attorney an
40 opportunity to be heard; and
41 (c) concludes that the degree of offense established by statute would be unduly harsh to
42 record as a conviction on the record for the defendant.
43 (3) (a) [If the court suspends the execution of a defendant’s sentence and places the
44 defendant on probation, regardless] Regardless of whether the defendant is committed to jail as
45 a condition of probation or sentenced to prison, the court [may] has jurisdiction to consider and
46 enter a judgment of conviction for a lower degree of offense:
47 (i) after the defendant has been successfully discharged from probation or parole;
48 (ii) upon motion and notice to either party;
49 (iii) after reasonable effort has been made by the prosecuting attorney to provide notice
50 to any victims;
51 (iv) after a hearing if requested by either party; and
52 (v) if the court finds entering a judgment of conviction for the lower degree of offense
53 is in the interest of justice.
54 (b) In making the finding in Subsection (3)(a)(v), the court shall consider as a factor in
55 favor of granting the reduction, after the defendant’s conviction, whether the level of the
56 offense has been reduced by law.
57 (c) In both the initial motion and at a requested hearing described in Subsection (3)(a),
58 the moving party has the burden to provide evidence sufficient to demonstrate:
59 (i) that the defendant has been successfully discharged from probation or parole; and
60 (ii) that the reduction is in the interest of justice.
61 (4) (a) An offense may be reduced only one degree under this section, whether the
62 reduction is entered under Subsection (2) or (3), unless the prosecuting attorney specifically
63 agrees in writing or on the court record that the offense may be reduced two degrees.
64 (b) An offense may not be reduced under this section by more than two degrees.
65 (5) This section does not preclude an individual from obtaining or being granted an
66 expungement of the individual’s record in accordance with Title 77, Chapter 40, Utah
67 Expungement Act.
68 (6) The court may not enter judgment for a conviction for a lower degree of offense if:
69 (a) the reduction is specifically precluded by law; or
70 (b) if any unpaid balance remains on court ordered restitution for the offense for which
71 the reduction is sought.
72 (7) When the court enters judgment for a lower degree of offense under this section,
73 the actual title of the offense for which the reduction is made may not be altered.
74 (8) (a) An individual may not obtain a reduction under this section of a conviction that
75 requires the individual to register as a sex offender until the registration requirements under
76 Title 77, Chapter 41, Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry, have expired.
77 (b) An individual required to register as a sex offender for the individual’s lifetime
78 under Subsection 77-41-105(3)(c) may not be granted a reduction of the conviction for the
79 offense or offenses that require the individual to register as a sex offender.
80 (9) (a) An individual may not obtain a reduction under this section of a conviction that
81 requires the individual to register as a child abuse offender until the registration requirements
82 under Title 77, Chapter 43, Child Abuse Offender Registry, have expired.
83 (b) An individual required to register as a child abuse offender for the individual’s
84 lifetime under Subsection 77-43-105(3)(c) may not be granted a reduction of the conviction for
85 the offense or offenses that require the individual to register as a child abuse offender.
