Utah criminal charge
Harassment of livestock in Utah
Harassment of livestock is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214. 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. § 76-13-214.
What is the penalty for harassment of livestock in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Harassment of livestock — no serious injury/death or livestock displaced onto property — No livestock is seriously injured or killed, or the livestock is displaced onto property where it is not legally entitled to be, as a result of the actor's actions.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Harassment of livestock — no serious injury/death or livestock displaced onto property — No livestock is seriously injured or killed, or the livestock is displaced onto property where it is not legally entitled to be, as a result of the actor's actions.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | Harassment of livestock — repeat offense, serious injury/death, or damage over $1,000 — The offense is the actor's second or subsequent offense, or livestock is seriously injured or killed, or livestock or property suffered damage in excess of $1,000 as a result of the actor's actions.; 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 (Harassment of livestock — repeat offense, serious injury/death, or damage over $1,000 — The offense is the actor's second or subsequent offense, or livestock is seriously injured or killed, or livestock or property suffered damage in excess of $1,000 as a result of the actor's actions.; 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 harassment of livestock classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harassment of livestock — no serious injury/death or livestock displaced onto property | Class B Misdemeanor | No livestock is seriously injured or killed, or the livestock is displaced onto property where it is not legally entitled to be, as a result of the actor's actions. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214(3)(a) |
| Harassment of livestock — repeat offense, serious injury/death, or damage over $1,000 | Class A Misdemeanor | The offense is the actor's second or subsequent offense, or livestock is seriously injured or killed, or livestock or property suffered damage in excess of $1,000 as a result of the actor's actions. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214(3)(b) |
Common questions about harassment of livestock in Utah
Is harassment of livestock a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: harassment of livestock ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214.
Harassment of livestock — no serious injury/death or livestock displaced onto property: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214(3)(a)) · Harassment of livestock — repeat offense, serious injury/death, or damage over $1,000: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214(3)(b))
What are the penalties for harassment of livestock in Utah?
Penalties for harassment of livestock in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Class A Misdemeanor — with the ranges set by Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Utah statute covers harassment of livestock?
Harassment of livestock is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-214 (Harassment of livestock).
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.