Rape Defense Lawyer in Park City

Defending Rape Charges in Summit County & Salt Lake County With 30+ Years of Combined Experience

A rape charge is one of the most serious allegations Utah law recognizes. At Langford | Ramos, we represent clients in Park City, Summit County, Salt Lake City, and Salt Lake County facing these charges at both the state and federal level. Our boutique firm brings over 30 years of combined attorney experience, and we approach every case without judgment, focused on the person behind the charge and what the evidence actually shows.

Investigators move quickly after a rape allegation is made, collecting forensic samples, conducting witness interviews, and arranging a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam. The window for building a defense is narrow.

Call (801) 919-8454 or reach us through our contact form to schedule a free consultation about your rape charge.

How Utah Defines Rape

Under Utah Code 76-5-402, rape is sexual intercourse with another person without that person’s consent. No physical violence is required. Lack of consent alone satisfies the statute, and the law applies regardless of the relationship between the parties, including between spouses or domestic partners.

Related statutes address non-consensual acts beyond intercourse. Object rape, defined under Utah Code 76-5-402.2, covers non-consensual penetration involving an object. Forcible sodomy, under Utah Code 76-5-403, covers non-consensual oral or anal contact. These charges often arise alongside a rape charge or in place of one, depending on the specific allegations.

Penalties for a Rape Conviction in Utah

Rape is a first-degree felony. A conviction carries a baseline sentence of not less than 5 years and up to life in prison. That floor rises significantly in certain circumstances.

• Serious bodily injury: If the offense caused serious bodily injury to the victim, the minimum sentence increases to not less than 15 years.
• Juvenile with a prior grievous sexual offense conviction: A defendant under 18 with a prior conviction for a grievous sexual offense also faces a 15-year minimum.
• Prior grievous sexual offense conviction: An adult with a prior grievous sexual offense conviction can receive a sentence of life without parole.
• Rape of a child: When the victim is under 14, charges proceed under a separate statute, Utah Code 76-5-402.1, which carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life.

Beyond incarceration, a rape conviction in Utah requires mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. That registration affects where a person can live and work and carries public disclosure obligations that follow them indefinitely.

Where Park City Area Rape Cases Are Prosecuted

Felony charges arising in Summit County, including rape charges originating in Park City, are handled by the Third District Court’s Summit County division, located at the Silver Summit Justice Center outside Park City. The Third Judicial District also covers Salt Lake County, so cases from Salt Lake City move through the same court system. We handle cases across both venues and understand how prosecutors in this district approach sex crime cases.

Our Approach to Rape Defense

Alexander Ramos served as a federal public defender before joining Langford | Ramos. That background shaped how he reads a prosecutor’s case file: what evidence they’re relying on, where they expect to anchor credibility, and where the account doesn’t hold together. Michael Langford brings more than 20 years of criminal defense experience. Together, they bring thorough investigation and meticulous preparation to every case they take on.

In most rape cases, the central dispute is consent, not whether intercourse occurred. Because the alleged incident typically involves only the accuser and the defendant, the jury’s evaluation of witness credibility often determines the case. We examine the consistency of the accuser’s account across every statement given to law enforcement and scrutinize forensic evidence, including DNA testing results and SANE exam findings, for what they do and don’t establish.

Depending on what the evidence shows, we may pursue dismissal, challenge specific charges, negotiate a resolution that may avoid the most severe consequences, or take the case to trial. Every path depends on the facts, and we don’t commit to a direction until we understand them fully.

Schedule a Free Consultation

The stakes in a rape case are too high to wait. A first-degree felony conviction can mean decades in prison and lifetime sex offender registration. We offer a free initial consultation so you can speak directly with our attorneys about your situation, ask questions, and understand your options before making any decisions.

Call (801) 919-8454 now or contact us through our website to speak with our defense team about your case.