One day you may be just living your life peacefully, and the next, you may find yourself shocked by being charged with a serious sex crime against a child. Your entire future is suddenly on the line, and you need the best criminal defense lawyer specializing in sex crimes Utah has to offer. You are up against prosecutors who are already feverishly building the most incriminating case possible against you. But you’re innocent until proven guilty. That means you deserve the best defense that can be provided for you. So, you need an attorney who is fully familiar with the Utah courts and state sex crime laws.
Click to jump to the section:
- Object Rape of a Child
- Penalties for Object Rape of a Child in Utah
- Protect Your Rights
- Contact Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah
Wasatch is a leading team of sex crimes lawyers in Salt Lake City, Utah. We will provide you with a free case review and let you know how we can help you. You should call for an appointment as soon as possible after you are charged, ideally before you speak with the police.
What is Considered Object Rape of a Child?
You may be charged with a crime that you don’t even really understand. If you are accused of this crime, you need to be clear on the charges against you and the potential punishments for conviction. Utah Code 76-5-402.2 defines object rape as causing penetration of the genital or anal opening of another person by a foreign object without her or his consent.
For this action to be the crime named above, the victim must be a child 13 years old or younger. To be classed as this crime, the object can be anything, including a human body part, other than a human mouth or genitals.
Further, to commit this crime, the accused must have acted with the intention of causing the alleged victim significant bodily or emotional pain or of causing the arousal of sexual desire in any person.
Penalties for Object Rape of a Child in Utah
Object rape is a First Degree felony in Utah, which is punishable by a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison. As you can see, the penalties for rape offenses of this kind are among the highest of any felony. So, you need an experienced Utah child sex crimes lawyer with a good track record of winning these kinds of cases.
If the convicted person is found to have caused severe physical injury to the victim or was under age 30 when he/she committed the crime, the sentence may be raised to a 15-year minimum sentence to a maximum of life in prison.
If the convicted person had a prior conviction for a serious sex crime at the time of the object rape offense, he/she may receive a minimum sentence of 15 years to a maximum of life in prison.
There are some cases in which the circumstances are such that it is determined that justice is better served by allowing a minimum sentence of 6 years to a maximum of 10 years or life in prison.
As you can see, penalties for object rape of a child in Utah vary widely, largely due to the quality of the Salt Lake City sex crimes lawyer you have fighting your case.
Protect Your Rights
If you are facing trial for a sex crime in Utah, you need the most skilled criminal defense lawyer you can get. Your lawyer must be fully familiar with state courts and know how to get charges dropped if possible and sentences reduced. An experienced Utah sex crimes lawyer can protect your rights, guide you through the legal process, gather all useful evidence, and build the best case for your defense. And, your lawyer will stand up and fight for you in court when needed.
Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah
If you have been charged with object rape of a child or another serious sex crime in Utah, time is against you. You need to start working with a top sex crimes attorney as soon as possible to improve your chances of acquittal or having charges dropped. Wasatch lawyers provide the aggressive defense that works best in such cases. We’re here to protect your freedom and your reputation and keep you off the Utah sex offender registry.