Utah criminal charge
Offenses in Utah
Offenses is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-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. § 77-23a-4.
What is the penalty for offenses in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Base violation of interception statute — A violation of Subsection (1) is a third degree felony except as otherwise provided under Subsection (10)(b) or (11).; 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 (Base violation of interception statute — A violation of Subsection (1) is a third degree felony except as otherwise provided under Subsection (10)(b) or (11).; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of unscrambled non-cellular/non-paging radio communication — First offense, not for tortious/illegal purpose or commercial/financial gain, involving an unscrambled/unencrypted radio communication that is not the radio portion of a cellular telephone, public land mobile radio, or paging service communication, and not under Subsection (11).; 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 (First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of unscrambled non-cellular/non-paging radio communication — First offense, not for tortious/illegal purpose or commercial/financial gain, involving an unscrambled/unencrypted radio communication that is not the radio portion of a cellular telephone, public land mobile radio, or paging service communication, and not under Subsection (11).; 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 (First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of cellular/public land mobile/paging radio communication — First offense, not for tortious/illegal purpose or commercial/financial gain, involving an unscrambled/unencrypted radio communication that is the radio portion of a cellular telephone, public land mobile radio service, or paging service communication.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of cellular/public land mobile/paging radio communication — First offense, not for tortious/illegal purpose or commercial/financial gain, involving an unscrambled/unencrypted radio communication that is the radio portion of a cellular telephone, public land mobile radio service, or paging service communication.; 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 offenses classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base violation of interception statute | Third Degree Felony | A violation of Subsection (1) is a third degree felony except as otherwise provided under Subsection (10)(b) or (11). | Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4(10)(a) |
| First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of unscrambled non-cellular/non-paging radio communication | Class A Misdemeanor | First offense, not for tortious/illegal purpose or commercial/financial gain, involving an unscrambled/unencrypted radio communication that is not the radio portion of a cellular telephone, public land mobile radio, or paging service communication, and not under Subsection (11). | Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4(10)(b)(i) |
| First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of cellular/public land mobile/paging radio communication | Class B Misdemeanor | First offense, not for tortious/illegal purpose or commercial/financial gain, involving an unscrambled/unencrypted radio communication that is the radio portion of a cellular telephone, public land mobile radio service, or paging service communication. | Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4(10)(b)(ii) |
Common questions about offenses in Utah
Is offenses a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: offenses ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Third Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4.
Base violation of interception statute: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4(10)(a)) · First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of unscrambled non-cellular/non-paging radio communication: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4(10)(b)(i)) · First offense, non-tortious, non-commercial interception of cellular/public land mobile/paging radio communication: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4(10)(b)(ii))
What are the penalties for offenses in Utah?
Which Utah statute covers offenses?
Offenses is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 77-23a-4 (Offenses - Criminal and civil - Lawful interception).
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.