Clayton Simms Juvenile Defense Advocate for Utah
There was some recent law enforcement training concerning how officers can deal with kids who have autism and autism spectrum disorders. What is Autism? These disorders can be characterized in a variety of degrees; particular symptoms may include difficulties in: social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism spectrum disorder may also include […]
A Utah teen pleaded guilty to homicide by assault for causing the death of a soccer referee. Teen Admits Guilt in Court The teen, Jose Teran, recently admitted his guilt in an incident which left a soccer referee with irreparable brain injuries—eventually leading to the man’s death. Teran and the referee were involved in a […]
A 17-year-old Utah teen has been arrested and taken to detention while she’s being investigated for her role in an alleged aggravated assault incident involving her father. The Backstory Authorities are trying to piece together exactly what happened, but believe that the girl was involved in an altercation with her father during which time both […]
A Utah teen recently pleaded guilty to manslaughter in juvenile court after initially being charged with murder in adult court in Moab, Utah. Setting the Scene The teen shot and killed his mother’s boyfriend while the man slept. Authorities believe that the boyfriend had given the young man drugs and was prepping him to become […]
Except for traffic violations and a few other situations, Utah juvenile offenses are generally considered to be civil matters as opposed to criminal issues. The only times a minor may be charged with a crime in Utah are in the following circumstances: • Murder • Aggravated murder • Offenses that would be considered felonies if […]
