Utah criminal charge
Aggravated cruelty to an animal in Utah
Aggravated cruelty to an animal is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203. 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. § 76-13-203.
What is the penalty for aggravated cruelty to an animal in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | Aggravated cruelty to an animal — intentional or knowing — Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed intentionally or knowingly.; 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 (Aggravated cruelty to an animal — intentional or knowing — Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed intentionally or knowingly.; 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 (Aggravated cruelty to an animal — reckless — Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed recklessly.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Aggravated cruelty to an animal — reckless — Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed recklessly.; 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 90 days (Aggravated cruelty to an animal — criminal negligence — Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed with criminal negligence.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $750 (Aggravated cruelty to an animal — criminal negligence — Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed with criminal negligence.; 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 aggravated cruelty to an animal classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated cruelty to an animal — intentional or knowing | Class A Misdemeanor | Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed intentionally or knowingly. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203(3)(a) |
| Aggravated cruelty to an animal — reckless | Class B Misdemeanor | Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed recklessly. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203(3)(b) |
| Aggravated cruelty to an animal — criminal negligence | Class C Misdemeanor | Applies when the violation of Subsection (2) is committed with criminal negligence. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203(3)(c) |
Common questions about aggravated cruelty to an animal in Utah
Is aggravated cruelty to an animal a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: aggravated cruelty to an animal ranges from a Class C Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203.
Aggravated cruelty to an animal — intentional or knowing: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203(3)(a)) · Aggravated cruelty to an animal — reckless: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203(3)(b)) · Aggravated cruelty to an animal — criminal negligence: Class C Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203(3)(c))
What are the penalties for aggravated cruelty to an animal in Utah?
Penalties for aggravated cruelty to an animal in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class C 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 aggravated cruelty to an animal?
Aggravated cruelty to an animal is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-13-203 (Aggravated cruelty to an animal).
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.