76-6-803.  Mutilation or damaging of library material.

(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
class B misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $1,000
For details, see Utah Code § 76-3-204

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Terms Used In Utah Code 76-6-803

  • Actor: means a person whose criminal responsibility is in issue in a criminal action. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Offense: means a violation of any penal statute of this state. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • written: includes any handwriting, typewriting, printing, electronic storage or transmission, or any other method of recording information or fixing information in a form capable of being preserved. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
(a)  As used in this section:

(i)  “Library” means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-6-801.

(ii)  “Library materials” means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-6-801.

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

(2)  An actor is guilty of mutilation or damage of library materials if the actor intentionally or recklessly writes upon, injures, defaces, tears, cuts, mutilates, destroys, or otherwise damages library materials.

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

(a)  a second degree felony if the value of the library materials is or exceeds $5,000;

(b)  a third degree felony if:

(i)  the value of the library materials is or exceeds $1,500 but is less than $5,000;

(ii)  the value of the library materials is or exceeds $500 and the actor has been twice before convicted of any of the following offenses, if each prior offense was committed within 10 years before the date of the current conviction or the date of the offense upon which the current conviction is based and at least one of those convictions is for a class A misdemeanor:

(A)  any theft, any robbery, or any burglary with intent to commit theft;

(B)  any offense under 5; or

(C)  any attempt to commit any offense under Subsection (3)(b)(ii)(A) or (B);

(iii) 

(A)  the value of the library materials is or exceeds $500 but is less than $1,500;

(B)  the theft occurs on a property where the offender has committed any theft within the past five years; and

(C)  the offender has received written notice from the library if the library has complied with the provisions of Subsection 78B-3-108(4) governing notice by a merchant; or

(iv)  the actor has been previously convicted of a felony violation of any of the offenses listed in Subsections (3)(b)(ii)(A) through (3)(b)(ii)(C), if the prior offense was committed within 10 years before the date of the current conviction or the date of the offense upon which the current conviction is based;

(c)  a class A misdemeanor if:

(i)  the value of the library materials stolen is or exceeds $500 but is less than $1,500;

(ii) 

(A)  the value of the library materials is less than $500;

(B)  the theft occurs on a property where the offender has committed any theft within the past five years; and

(C)  the offender has received written notice from the library if the library has complied with the provisions of Subsection 78B-3-108(4) governing notice by a merchant; or

(iii)  the actor has been twice before convicted of any of the offenses listed in Subsections (3)(b)(ii)(A) through (3)(b)(ii)(C), if each prior offense was committed within 10 years before the date of the current conviction or the date of the offense upon which the current conviction is based; or

(d)  a class B misdemeanor if the value of the library materials stolen is less than $500 and the theft is not an offense under Subsection (3)(c).

Amended by Chapter 111, 2023 General Session