76-5-113.  Surreptitious administration of certain substances — Definitions — Penalties — Defenses.

(1) 

Attorney's Note

Under the Utah Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class A misdemeanorup to 364 daysup to $2,500
For details, see Utah Code § 76-3-204
criminal case

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Terms Used In Utah Code 76-5-113

  • Actor: means a person whose criminal responsibility is in issue in a criminal action. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Bodily injury: means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Conduct: means an act or omission. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Offense: means a violation of any penal statute of this state. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Serious bodily injury: means bodily injury that creates or causes serious permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ, or creates a substantial risk of death. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Writing: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(a)  As used in this section:

(i)  “Administer” means the introduction of a substance into the body by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or by any other means.

(ii)  “Alcoholic beverage” means the same as that term is defined in Section 32B-1-102.

(iii)  “Controlled substance” means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-37-2.

(iv)  “Deleterious substance” means a substance which, if administered, would likely cause bodily injury.

(v)  “Health care provider” means the same as that term is defined in Section 78B-3-403.

(vi)  “Poisonous” means a substance which, if administered, would likely cause serious bodily injury or death.

(vii)  “Prescription drug” means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-17b-102.

(viii)  “Serious bodily injury” means the same as that term is defined in Section 19-2-115.

(ix)  “Substance” means a controlled substance, poisonous substance, or deleterious substance.

(b)  Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section.

(2)  An actor commits surreptitious administration of a certain substance if the actor, surreptitiously or by means of fraud, deception, or misrepresentation, causes an individual to unknowingly consume or receive the administration of:

(a)  any poisonous, deleterious, or controlled substance; or

(b)  any alcoholic beverage.

(3)  A violation of Subsection (2) is:

(a)  a second degree felony if the substance is a poisonous substance, regardless of whether the substance is a controlled substance or a prescription drug;

(b)  a third degree felony if the substance is not within the scope of Subsection (3)(a), and is a controlled substance or a prescription drug; or

(c)  a class A misdemeanor if the substance is a deleterious substance or an alcoholic beverage.

(4) 

(a)  It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under Subsection (2) that the actor:

(i)  provided the appropriate administration of a prescription drug; and

(ii)  acted on the reasonable belief that the actor’s conduct was in the best interest of the well-being of the individual to whom the prescription drug was administered.

(b) 

(i)  The defendant shall file and serve on the prosecuting attorney a notice in writing of the defendant’s intention to claim a defense under Subsection (4)(a) not fewer than 20 days before the trial.

(ii)  The notice shall specifically identify the factual basis for the defense and the names and addresses of the witnesses the defendant proposes to examine to establish the defense.

(c) 

(i)  The prosecuting attorney shall file and serve the defendant with a notice containing the names and addresses of the witnesses the prosecutor proposes to examine in order to contradict or rebut the defendant’s claim of an affirmative defense under Subsection (4)(a).

(ii)  This notice shall be filed or served not more than 10 days after receipt of the defendant’s notice under Subsection (4)(b), or at another time as the court may direct.

(d) 

(i)  Failure of a party to comply with the requirements of Subsection (4)(b) or (4)(c) entitles the opposing party to a continuance to allow for preparation.

(ii)  If the court finds that a party’s failure to comply is the result of bad faith, it may impose appropriate sanctions.

(5) 

(a)  This section does not diminish the scope of authorized health care by a health care provider.

(b)  Conduct in violation of Subsection (2) may also constitute a separate offense.

Amended by Chapter 330, 2023 General Session

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