Salt Lake City Criminal Defense for Aggravated Sexual Assault
Aggravated sexual assault charges in Salt Lake City can result in life in prison.
Aggravate sexual assault is a serious crime requiring serious representation from a Salt Lake City Criminal Defense attorney. Aggravated sexual assault charges can destroy a person’s life even if the charges never result in a conviction. The penalties resulting from an aggravated sexual conviction continue to become harsher as society’s tolerance for sex crimes diminishes. This is seen in the way Congress and other legislatures are reacting to sexual assault scandals occurring in the military and on college campuses throughout the United States. Utah is no exception to bringing the hammer down on sex crimes defendants.
The Elements of an Aggravated Sexual Assault Charge
There are many different ways a person can be convicted of aggravated sexual assault in Utah. Essentially, a person can be convicted of aggravated sexual assault if during the course of a rape, object rape, forcible sexual abuse, or any attempt thereof, a person uses a dangerous weapon, threatens to use a dangerous weapon, threatens to kidnap, threatens death or to cause serious bodily injury, or is aided by one or more persons in the sexual assault. Accordingly, if a person is charged with rape, the person can also be charged with aggravated sexual assault depending on the circumstances of the case. Aggravated sexual assault is a first degree felony, which is the most serious level of offense a person can commit.
Penalties
A judge is required to sentence a person convicted of aggravated sexual abuse to a minimum mandatory time period in prison. The time period varies depending on the facts of the assault, the age of the defendant, and whether the defendant was previously convicted of a grievous sexual offense. Under the maximum penalty for a conviction, a person may be sentenced to prison for life without the opportunity of parole. Additionally, a person is required to register on Utah’ Sex Offender registry for life for a conviction of aggravated sexual assault.
Because the penalties of such a conviction are so serious, it is important for any person facing such charges to immediately contact a Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Lawyer. A lawyer is available and ready to speak to a person facing such serious charges. Call 801.618.1333 to find out how you can get protected.
