Utah criminal charge
Patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking in Utah
Patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314. 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. § 76-5-314.
What is the penalty for patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 15 years (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — actual knowledge — The actor knows the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion over the individual.; 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 (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — actual knowledge — The actor knows the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion over the individual.; 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 (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, first offense — The actor is reckless as to whether the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion, and this is not a second or subsequent conviction.; 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 (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, first offense — The actor is reckless as to whether the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion, and this is not a second or subsequent conviction.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 15 years (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, repeat offense — The actor is reckless as described in Subsection (2)(e)(ii) and has a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of Subsection (2)(e)(ii).; 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 (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, repeat offense — The actor is reckless as described in Subsection (2)(e)(ii) and has a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of Subsection (2)(e)(ii).; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, first offense — The actor is criminally negligent as to whether the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion, and this is not a second or subsequent conviction.; 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 (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, first offense — The actor is criminally negligent as to whether the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion, and this is not a second or subsequent conviction.; 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 5 years (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, repeat offense — The actor is criminally negligent as described in Subsection (2)(e)(iii) and has a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of Subsection (2)(e)(iii).; 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 (Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, repeat offense — The actor is criminally negligent as described in Subsection (2)(e)(iii) and has a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of Subsection (2)(e)(iii).; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
Applies to current (2026 General Session).
How is patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — actual knowledge | Second Degree Felony | The actor knows the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion over the individual. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(a) |
| Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, first offense | Third Degree Felony | The actor is reckless as to whether the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion, and this is not a second or subsequent conviction. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(b)(i) |
| Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, repeat offense | Second Degree Felony | The actor is reckless as described in Subsection (2)(e)(ii) and has a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of Subsection (2)(e)(ii). | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(b)(ii) |
| Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, first offense | Class A Misdemeanor | The actor is criminally negligent as to whether the individual's services or labor is being provided as a result of another person's exercise of force, fraud, or coercion, and this is not a second or subsequent conviction. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(c)(i) |
| Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, repeat offense | Third Degree Felony | The actor is criminally negligent as described in Subsection (2)(e)(iii) and has a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of Subsection (2)(e)(iii). | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(c)(ii) |
Common questions about patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking in Utah
Is patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking ranges from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314.
Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — actual knowledge: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(a)) · Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, first offense: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(b)(i)) · Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — reckless, repeat offense: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(b)(ii)) · Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, first offense: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(c)(i)) · Patronizing a child labor trafficking victim — criminal negligence, repeat offense: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314(3)(c)(ii))
What are the penalties for patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking in Utah?
Penalties for patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class A 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 patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking?
Patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-314 (Patronizing a child victim of human labor trafficking).
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.