Utah criminal charge
Distributing obscene animal abuse material in Utah
Distributing obscene animal abuse material is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215. 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. § 76-5c-215.
What is the penalty for distributing obscene animal abuse material in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Adult offender — A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony if the actor is 18 years old or older, subject to mandatory minimum fine and incarceration.; 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 (Adult offender — A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony if the actor is 18 years old or older, subject to mandatory minimum fine and incarceration.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | Older minor offender — A violation of Subsection (2) is a class A misdemeanor if the actor is 16 or 17 years old.; 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 (Older minor offender — A violation of Subsection (2) is a class A misdemeanor if the actor is 16 or 17 years old.; 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 (Younger minor offender — A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor if the actor is younger than 16 years old.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Younger minor offender — A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor if the actor is younger than 16 years old.; 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 distributing obscene animal abuse material classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult offender | Third Degree Felony | A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony if the actor is 18 years old or older, subject to mandatory minimum fine and incarceration. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215(3)(a) |
| Older minor offender | Class A Misdemeanor | A violation of Subsection (2) is a class A misdemeanor if the actor is 16 or 17 years old. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215(3)(b) |
| Younger minor offender | Class B Misdemeanor | A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor if the actor is younger than 16 years old. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215(3)(c) |
Common questions about distributing obscene animal abuse material in Utah
Is distributing obscene animal abuse material a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: distributing obscene animal abuse material ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Third Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215.
Adult offender: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215(3)(a)) · Older minor offender: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215(3)(b)) · Younger minor offender: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215(3)(c))
What are the penalties for distributing obscene animal abuse material in Utah?
Which Utah statute covers distributing obscene animal abuse material?
Distributing obscene animal abuse material is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-215 (Distributing obscene animal abuse material).
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.