The Spanish Fork District Court is unique in that Spanish Fork City does not have it’s own justice court. Therefore, like American Fork, all the Spanish Fork justice court cases are handled in the Spanish Fork District Court. Most cities have their own justice courts and few exceptions in Utah County are Cedar Hills, unincorporated Utah County areas, Vineyard, American Fork, Cedar Fort, Eagle Mountain.
A misdemeanor is an offense lower than a felony which can be punished with a county jail term of up to 364 days, a fine, or both. Many city and county ordinances and some state laws are misdemeanors. There are three categories of misdemeanors. Since Spanish Fork City doesn’t have a justice court, the all felonies and all misdemeanors are heard in the Spanish Fork 4th judicial district court.
Capital Felony.
Life in prison, life in prison without parole, or death.
First Degree Felony.
Five years to life in prison . Up to $10,000.
Second Degree Felony.
One to 15 years in prison. Up to $10,000.
Third Degree Felony.
Zero to five years in prison. Up to $5,000.
Class A Misdemeanors:
Not prosecuted in the justice court system, but in district court. 0-364 days in the county jail. Up to a $2,500 fine. Or probation.
Class B Misdemeanors:
0-6 months in the county jail. Up to $1,000 fine or compensatory service.
Class C Misdemeanors:
0-90 days in the county jail. Up to $750 fine or compensatory service.
Infractions:
An infraction is punishable by a fine up to $750, compensatory service, forfeiture, disqualification, or a combination of those punishments.
Judge Jared Eldridge was appointed to the bench in 2017. He worked as a Juab County prosecutor prior to that. As of 07/2022 he is still in Spanish Fork.
Most every justice court in Utah as a Small Claims department within them. As of 2022, the money limit in small claims was raised to $15,000 including attorney fees if any and excluding post judgement interest and costs.
Contract disputes, general civil litigation, including car accident personal injury cases are tried in the Spanish Fork District Court Small Claims division. You cannot sue the government in any small claims court and you are not required to have an attorney. Business which normally can’t represent themselves, can in small claims.
The Spanish Fork District Court does not have a small claims department. All small claims matters as of 07/2022 are heard in the Utah County Justice Court.
The Spanish Fork District Court is located on Center Street in Orem at: 775 West Center Street, Spanish Fork, UT 8466. Phone (801) 804-4800.
The Spanish Fork Attorney’s Office prosecutes all misdemeanors in the Spanish Fork District Court. The Spanish Fork Attorney’s Office does not charge or prosecute felonies. All Felonies are prosecuted by the Utah County Attorney’s Office, and sometimes by the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
Spanish Fork office policies can be found HERE: https://www.spanishfork.org/departments/legal/index.php
(1). Traffic Offenses. Nearly every traffic offense listed in the Utah Traffic Code. Utah Code 41-6a-101 et seq. Over 200 points or near 200 points on your Utah driver’s license will suspend you.
(2). DV Charges. Domestic violence charges. Assault, battery, electronic communications harassment, unlawful detention or unlawful detention of a minor, certain disorderly conduct charges, child abuse, etc. The full listing of all domestic violence criminal charges in Utah can be found at Utah Code 77-36-1, https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title77/Chapter36/77-36-S1.html
(3). DUI/DWI. DUI/Drunk driving, drugged driving, impaired driving, metabolite driving.
(4). Reckless Driving. It is now presumed reckless driving when speeding over 105 mph.
(5). Drugs. Simple drug possession. Marijuana possession. Drug paraphernalia possession.
(6). Felony DUI.
(7). Felony domestic violence.
(8). Felony drug distribution charges.
(9). Felony aggravate assault.
