If you or your son or daughter was arrested and charged with a crime while attending BYU, your family needs the guidance and protection of a dedicated attorney for college students. For more than 16 years, Provo defense lawyer Darwin Overson has dedicated his career to fighting felony and misdemeanor charges on behalf of adults and minors, qualifying him to represent students in both the criminal and juvenile court systems while providing aggressive representation at disciplinary or academic hearings conducted by BYU.
No matter what sort of criminal charge or alleged misconduct led to your arrest and disciplinary hearing, Darwin Overson will provide the high-caliber, hard-hitting defense your family needs. To arrange a free legal consultation with a BYU disciplinary hearings lawyer in Provo, contact Overson Law online, or call today at (801) 758-2287.
Common Criminal Charges Against College Students in Utah
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Provo private university operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church expects BYU students to follow a rigorous Code of Conduct that reflects University values. Allegations of misconduct, such as criminal charges against a student, can lead to an academic or disciplinary hearing.
College students are frequently charged with offenses that involve controlled substances (drugs), alcohol, or sexual misconduct. Examples of charges that are commonly filed against college students include:
- Disorderly Conduct
- Distribution of Controlled Substances
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
- Drug Possession
- Harassment
- Hazing
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Possession of Fake ID
- Rape
- Resisting Arrest
- Retail Theft (Shoplifting)
- Revenge Porn Offenses
- Sexual Assault
- Simple Assault
- Stalking
- Trespassing
- Underage Possession of Alcohol
If you or your son or daughter has been charged with these or other offenses, and is now facing criminal proceedings and/or BYU disciplinary proceedings as a result, Overson Law can help explain your family’s options and next steps. Contact us today to set up your free legal consultation.
What Are the Consequences of an Academic or Disciplinary Hearing at BYU?
A BYU student hearing could result in suspension, expulsion, and/or loss of eligibility for various loans, scholarships, internships, study abroad programs, and volunteer or employment opportunities. Likewise, the student may be removed from on-campus housing. According to official student policy, there are also certain cases where BYU “may place an immediate hold on the student’s registration and/or graduation pending further investigation and/or resolution” of the issue at hand.
There is no question that these types of consequences can be absolutely devastating for a young person who is just starting out in their career. But even more seriously, the student may face criminal penalties – including prison time. Other outcomes of a criminal case might include probation, license suspension, and heavy fines. Consequences of a criminal conviction in Utah are discussed in the section below.
What Are the Penalties if You Are Convicted of a Crime in Utah?
BYU can impose various penalties on students as deemed appropriate by the University, up to and including permanent expulsion. But if the violation involved a crime, such as marijuana possession or drunk driving, the state will conduct its own investigation regardless of any academic or disciplinary hearings that might take place within BYU. Depending on the student’s age, the adult (criminal) or juvenile (civil) courts may have jurisdiction over the case.
The penalties for a crime depend on a few different factors, such as the defendant’s age, whether the defendant had a record of prior offenses, and the severity of the offense. Lesser offenses are misdemeanors, while more serious crimes are felonies. Either a felony or a misdemeanor conviction can result in a criminal record, expensive fines, jail time, probation, license suspension, mandatory counseling, community service, victim restitution, and other penalties. Utah fine and sentencing maximums are as follows, except in a few special cases where state laws create penalty enhancements for particular crimes:
- Class C Misdemeanors
- Maximum Fine – $750
- Maximum Sentence – 90 days in jail
- Class B Misdemeanors
- Maximum Fine – $1,000
- Maximum Sentence – Six months in jail
- Class A Misdemeanors
- Maximum Fine – $2,500
- Maximum Sentence – About one year in jail (364 days)
- Third Degree Felonies
- Maximum Fine – $5,000
- Maximum Sentence – Five years in prison
- Second Degree Felonies
- Maximum Fine – $10,000
- Maximum Sentence – 15 years in prison
- First Degree Felonies
- Maximum Fine – $10,000
- Maximum Sentence – Life in prison, in some cases without parole (early release from prison)
Brigham Young University Student Disciplinary Hearing Attorney in Provo
A disciplinary hearing or criminal investigation can undo all of the hard work that your son or daughter has poured into their college career, disrupting financial aid eligibility, enrollment status, graduation, and future career opportunities. Make sure your son or daughter is protected by hiring an experienced disciplinary hearing lawyer for college students in Utah. To arrange a free legal consultation, contact Overson Law online, or call 24 hours at (801) 758-2287 for assistance.
