Utah criminal charge
Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Utah
Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4. Its classification is not fixed: Utah assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4.
What is the penalty for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 15 years (Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, $5,000 or more — Violation of Subsection (2) done intentionally or knowingly where the aggregate value of the resources used or profit made is or exceeds $5,000.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, $5,000 or more — Violation of Subsection (2) done intentionally or knowingly where the aggregate value of the resources used or profit made is or exceeds $5,000.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, under $5,000 or undetermined — Violation of Subsection (2) done intentionally or knowingly where the aggregate value of the resources used or profit made is less than $5,000 or cannot be determined.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, under $5,000 or undetermined — Violation of Subsection (2) done intentionally or knowingly where the aggregate value of the resources used or profit made is less than $5,000 or cannot be determined.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | Financial exploitation - reckless — Violation of Subsection (2) done recklessly, regardless of amount.; up to 364 days — except up to one year for class A misdemeanors under Title 76, Chapter 5 (Offenses Against the Individual), other than Sections 76-5-102.9, 76-5-107.5, 76-5-113, and 76-5-303, which remain at 364 days (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204(1)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Financial exploitation - reckless — Violation of Subsection (2) done recklessly, regardless of amount.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Financial exploitation - criminal negligence — Violation of Subsection (2) done with criminal negligence, regardless of amount.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Financial exploitation - criminal negligence — Violation of Subsection (2) done with criminal negligence, regardless of amount.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
Applies to current (2026 General Session).
How is financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, $5,000 or more | Second Degree Felony | Violation of Subsection (2) done intentionally or knowingly where the aggregate value of the resources used or profit made is or exceeds $5,000. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(a) |
| Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, under $5,000 or undetermined | Third Degree Felony | Violation of Subsection (2) done intentionally or knowingly where the aggregate value of the resources used or profit made is less than $5,000 or cannot be determined. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(b) |
| Financial exploitation - reckless | Class A Misdemeanor | Violation of Subsection (2) done recklessly, regardless of amount. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(c) |
| Financial exploitation - criminal negligence | Class B Misdemeanor | Violation of Subsection (2) done with criminal negligence, regardless of amount. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(d) |
Common questions about financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Utah
Is financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4.
Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, $5,000 or more: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(a)) · Financial exploitation - intentional/knowing, under $5,000 or undetermined: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(b)) · Financial exploitation - reckless: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(c)) · Financial exploitation - criminal negligence: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4(3)(d))
What are the penalties for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Utah?
Penalties for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Second Degree Felony — with the ranges set by Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 and Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Utah statute covers financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult?
Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111.4 (Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult - Penalties).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.