Utah criminal charge
Records filed with intent to harass or defraud in Utah
Records filed with intent to harass or defraud is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7. 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. § 76-6-503.7.
What is the penalty for records filed with intent to harass or defraud in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Filing record to harass debtor — first offense — A first violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(i), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to harass the person identified as the debtor.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Filing record to harass debtor — first offense — A first violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(i), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to harass the person identified as the debtor.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | Filing record to harass debtor — second or subsequent offense — A second or subsequent violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(i), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to harass the person identified as the debtor.; 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 (Filing record to harass debtor — second or subsequent offense — A second or subsequent violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(i), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to harass the person identified as the debtor.; 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 (Filing record to defraud debtor — A violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(ii), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to defraud the person identified as the debtor.; 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 (Filing record to defraud debtor — A violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(ii), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to defraud the person identified as the debtor.; 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 records filed with intent to harass or defraud classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing record to harass debtor — first offense | Class B Misdemeanor | A first violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(i), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to harass the person identified as the debtor. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7(3)(a) |
| Filing record to harass debtor — second or subsequent offense | Class A Misdemeanor | A second or subsequent violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(i), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to harass the person identified as the debtor. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7(3)(a) |
| Filing record to defraud debtor | Third Degree Felony | A violation of Subsections (2)(a), (b), (c), and (d)(ii), where the record is filed knowingly or intentionally to defraud the person identified as the debtor. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7(3)(b) |
Common questions about records filed with intent to harass or defraud in Utah
Is records filed with intent to harass or defraud a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: records filed with intent to harass or defraud ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Third Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7.
Filing record to harass debtor — first offense: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7(3)(a)) · Filing record to harass debtor — second or subsequent offense: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7(3)(a)) · Filing record to defraud debtor: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7(3)(b))
What are the penalties for records filed with intent to harass or defraud in Utah?
Penalties for records filed with intent to harass or defraud in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Third Degree Felony — with the ranges set by Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 and Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Utah statute covers records filed with intent to harass or defraud?
Records filed with intent to harass or defraud is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-503.7 (Records filed with intent to harass or defraud).
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.