Mayhem

In Utah, criminal mayhem occurs when a person illegally and intentionally causes injury to another person or removes their body parts. Criminally it’s a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000.

Charges of criminal mayhem are serious, and you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side. The criminal defense lawyers at Douglas D. Terry & Associates have extensive experience defending people against changes of criminal mayhem and other assault crimes. During your initial consultation, we will ask questions to learn about your situation and identify potential defenses. Once you hire Douglas D. Terry & Associates, we will conduct an independent investigation and mount an aggressive defense designed to result in a reduction of the criminal charges or outright dismissal of the case.

Mayhem Meaning

Criminal mayhem is commonly charged in connection with a domestic violence incident or an assault. charges are defined under Utah Code § 76-5-105 and arise when a person unlawfully and intentionally deprives a person of a part of their body, disables or renders it useless, cuts out or disables the tongue, puts out an eye, or slits the nose, ear, or lip.

People are often charged with assault or aggravated assault after a physical altercation that results in bodily injury to someone else. But when the fight results in bodily injuries so severe as to deprive someone of the use of a body part or render it “useless,” or when it results in the destruction of an eye, removal of a tongue, or slitting the nose, ear, or lip, a person is likely to be charged with criminal mayhem.

Intent Required

Not all actions that cause damage to or the loss of another person’s body part will result in charges of criminal mayhem. To sustain a charge, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant intentionally caused the injury or removal of the body part.

If you were involved in an altercation and accidentally caused injury or damage to another person’s body part, the prosecutor will not be able to prove the element of intent and will be unable to secure a conviction for criminal mayhem. However, it is likely that you will face other criminal charges, such as aggravated assault.

Penalties for a Criminal Conviction

Criminal mayhem is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000.

In addition, someone convicted of this crime will likely be ordered to pay restitution to the victim and will be placed on supervised probation once they are released from prison.

Douglas D. Terry & Associates Fights to Protect Your Rights

If you are facing a criminal charge of mayhem, you need an experienced, aggressive, and tenacious criminal defense lawyer on your side. The criminal defense lawyers at Douglas D. Terry & Associates have been defending people accused of crimes in Utah for over 30 years. We will independently investigate the circumstances that led to your arrest, identify your best defenses, and fight to protect your rights.

Douglas D. Terry & Associates has offices in St. George and Cedar City, Utah, and proudly defends people throughout southern Utah in Richfield, Panguitch, Kanab, Beaver, and Fillmore.

Douglas Terry has been practicing criminal defense law since 1983 and leads the longest-serving criminal defense law firm in St. George. Our lawyers know Utah law and have practiced in every courthouse in southern Utah. We know area judges and the prosecutors you are likely to face, and we understand the criminal procedures that apply in courts throughout the state.

Your initial consultation with us is free of charge. During your first meeting, we will learn about your situation and help you understand your options. We will answer your questions to help you decide whether we are the right law firm for you.

We invite you to learn why people choose us and to contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help. Call us today at (435) 628-4411 or complete our online contact form.