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Murray, Ziel, & Johnston, PLLC

Utah Criminal Attorney

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Skilled Representation for Criminal Cases

The Utah lawyers at MZJ are dedicated to defending clients facing criminal charges in state, federal, and appellate courts. Trust us to handle your case, from trial to plea bargains, revocation hearings, appeals, and post-conviction remedies.

Our Utah criminal lawyers are experts in the following areas:

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DUI

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Felony

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Misdemeanor

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Juvenile

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White-Collar

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White-Collar

Our firm specializes in defending individuals and businesses facing charges of white-collar crime, such as embezzlement, fraud, and computer misuse. These serious offenses can lead to fines and imprisonment, so it’s important to have a seasoned legal team on your side. Our attorneys have extensive experience in federal court and are equipped to handle cases involving agencies such as the SEC, CFTC, and others.

DUI Defense

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Driving under the influence (DUI) is defined as operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, or while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, a combination of both, or any other intoxicating substance. Commercial vehicle operators can be charged with DUI if their BAC is .04 or higher. Minors (under 21 years of age) can be charged if their BAC is .02 or higher. A BAC of .20 or higher results in an excessive DUI charge. Repeat offenders, with three DUI charges within the past 10 years or two excessive DUI charges, can face a felony charge. If a DUI leads to a crash, a felony charge may be imposed depending on the circumstances. Refusing to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test when suspected of DUI by law enforcement results in a driver’s license suspension of up to one year. Agreeing to BAC testing with a BAC over the legal limit results in a 90-day license suspension.

First Offense DUI

A person who is convicted of driving under the influence for the first time or who has not been convicted in the past 10 years faces the following penalties and consequences: a potential jail sentence of up to six months, a maximum fine of $1,000, a driver's license suspension of six months or less, a requirement to carry SR-22 high-risk insurance, up to two years of probation, including mandatory drug and/or alcohol evaluations with adherence to their recommendations, and completion of community service.

Second Offense DUI

Individuals charged with a second DUI within a ten-year span face the following penalties and consequences: maximum imprisonment of 12 months, with a minimum of 10 days, with two consecutive days served; maximum fine of $2,000; mandatory suspension of driver's license for one year; requirement to obtain SR-22 high-risk insurance; and up to two years of probation, which may include drug and/or alcohol evaluations and adherence to the evaluations' recommendations.

Excessive DUI

The penalties for an excessive DUI conviction can include a maximum jail time of 12 months with a minimum of 10 days, with 48 consecutive hours required. A fine of up to $2,000.00 may be imposed, along with a mandatory one-year suspension of your driver's license. You may also be required to obtain SR-22 high-risk insurance and undergo up to two years of probation, which may involve drug and alcohol evaluations and compliance with the recommendations.

Felony DUI

A Felony DUI carries severe penalties, including: 10-year maximum prison sentence with a minimum of 30 days in jail, where the first 48 hours must be served consecutively; a $5,000 fine; mandatory one-year driver's license suspension with no exception for work privileges; mandatory SR-22 high-risk insurance; and probation of up to 10 years, which may include drug court.

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Types of Criminal Charges

Felony

Experienced Felony Representation. Our team, with years of experience as Deputy Prosecutors, handles a diverse range of felony cases. With over 2 years of working with judges and handling various criminal matters, we are members of CJA (Criminal Justice Act) and have successfully defended clients facing serious federal criminal charges. From burglary to drug possession and beyond, our expertise extends to defending against a wide array of felonies.

misdemeanor

Our attorneys provide personalized guidance on your legal options, weighing the pros and cons of each. We thoroughly examine all of the prosecution's evidence, such as police reports, audio/video recordings, and physical evidence, searching for potential violations of your constitutional rights. If necessary, we fight to have evidence excluded. When it is appropriate to go to trial, we strive to give you the strongest defense possible. In the event a plea agreement is the best option, we negotiate to minimize the consequences for you.

Juvenile defense

With over three years of experience in prosecuting juvenile cases, Mr. Ziel is well-versed in Utah's juvenile justice system and equipped to provide exceptional representation for children charged with juvenile offenses. As a specialized area of law, it is important for a juvenile defendant to have a legal representative with the knowledge and expertise in navigating the unique challenges of this area.

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