Recently, this blog discussed a case where a Utah man was arrested in another state on sex crime charges in Utah. In this case, the charges were several years old, but the man was still arrested and going to be tried in Utah on the crimes. This case could lead you to wonder — how long can prosecutors pursue charges against those accused of sex crimes?
Under Utah laws, this question depends on the specific charges that are brought against a person. Under Utah Code section 76-1-301, many sex crimes — including aggravated sexual assault, sexual abuse of a child, forcible sodomy, rape and others — have no time limitations. This means that prosecutors can bring charges against a person at time after the commission of an alleged crime.
Under Utah code section 76-1-302, however, many other felonies have a four-year limitation, while misdemeanors have a two-year limitation. Forcible sexual abuse and incest have eight-year limitations. However, in order for the eight-year limitation to apply, the alleged crime must have been reported within the first four years after it was committed.
As you can see, these limitations are complex and vary based on the specific charges brought against a person. Therefore, this post cannot provide specific legal advice about a particular case. Instead, people facing criminal charges for sex crimes need to seek the guidance of an attorney.
With the right help, people can understand the specific charges against them, whether prosecutors can bring the charge and what the potential defenses to the charge might be. This knowledge can help people fight the charges and avoid penalties.
Source: Utah State Legislature, “Title 76 Utah Criminal Code Chapter 1 General Provisions,” accessed on Aug. 17, 2014
Source: Utah State Legislature, “Title 76 Utah Criminal Code Chapter 1 General Provisions,” accessed on Aug. 17, 2014