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H.B. 209

             1     

SENTENCING FOR USE OF DANGEROUS

             2     
WEAPON

             3     
2003 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             6      This act modifies the Criminal Code by removing the dangerous weapon enhancement
             7      from the general felony sentencing statute and placing it in a separate section. The
             8      language is also amended to facilitate application of the enhancement in felony cases.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          23-20-4, as last amended by Chapter 265, Laws of Utah 1996
             12          76-3-203, as last amended by Chapter 214, Laws of Utah 2000
             13          76-3-203.2, as last amended by Chapter 214, Laws of Utah 2000
             14      ENACTS:
             15          76-3-203.8, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             16      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             17          Section 1. Section 23-20-4 is amended to read:
             18           23-20-4. Wanton destruction of protected wildlife -- Penalties.
             19          (1) A person is guilty of wanton destruction of protected wildlife if he:
             20          (a) commits an act in violation of Section 23-13-4 , 23-13-5 , 23-13-13 , 23-15-6 through
             21      23-15-9 , 23-16-5 , or Subsection 23-20-3 (1);
             22          (b) captures, injures, or destroys protected wildlife; and
             23          (c) (i) does so with intentional, knowing, or reckless conduct as defined in Section
             24      76-2-103 ;
             25          (ii) intentionally abandons protected wildlife or a carcass;
             26          (iii) commits the offense at night with the use of a weapon;
             27          (iv) is under a court or division revocation of a license, tag, permit, or certificate of



             28      registration; or
             29          (v) acts for pecuniary gain.
             30          (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to actions taken which are in accordance with the
             31      following:
             32          (a) Title 4, Chapter 14, Utah Pesticide Control Act;
             33          (b) Title 4, Chapter 23, Agriculture and Wildlife Damage Prevention Act; or
             34          (c) Section 23-16-3 .
             35          (3) Wanton destruction of wildlife is punishable:
             36          (a) as a third degree felony if:
             37          (i) the aggregate value of the protected wildlife determined by the values in Subsection
             38      [ 23-20-4 ](4) is more than $500; or
             39          (ii) a trophy animal was captured, injured, or destroyed;
             40          (b) as a class A misdemeanor if the aggregate value of the protected wildlife, other than
             41      any trophy animal, determined by the values established in Subsection 23-20-4 (4) is more than
             42      $250, but does not exceed $500; and
             43          (c) as a class B misdemeanor if the aggregate value of the protected wildlife
             44      determined by the values established in Subsection [ 23-20-4 ](4) is $250 or less.
             45          (4) Regardless of the restitution amounts imposed under Subsection 23-20-4.5 (2), the
             46      following values shall be assigned to protected wildlife for the purpose of determining the
             47      offense for wanton destruction of wildlife:
             48          (a) $1,000 per animal for:
             49          (i) bison;
             50          (ii) bighorn sheep;
             51          (iii) rocky mountain goat;
             52          (iv) moose;
             53          (v) bear; or
             54          (vi) endangered species;
             55          (b) $750 per animal for:
             56          (i) elk; or
             57          (ii) threatened species;
             58          (c) $500 per animal for:



             59          (i) cougar;
             60          (ii) golden eagle;
             61          (iii) river otter; or
             62          (iv) gila monster;
             63          (d) $400 per animal for:
             64          (i) pronghorn antelope; or
             65          (ii) deer;
             66          (e) $350 per animal for bobcat;
             67          (f) $100 per animal for:
             68          (i) swan;
             69          (ii) sandhill crane;
             70          (iii) turkey;
             71          (iv) pelican;
             72          (v) loon;
             73          (vi) egrets;
             74          (vii) herons;
             75          (viii) raptors, except those that are threatened or endangered;
             76          (ix) Utah milk snake; or
             77          (x) Utah mountain king snake;
             78          (g) $35 per animal for furbearers, except:
             79          (i) bobcat;
             80          (ii) river otter; and
             81          (iii) threatened or endangered species;
             82          (h) $15 per animal for game birds, except:
             83          (i) turkey;
             84          (ii) swan; and
             85          (iii) sandhill crane;
             86          (i) $10 per animal for game fish;
             87          (j) $8 per pound dry weight of processed brine shrimp including eggs; and
             88          (k) $5 per animal for protected wildlife not listed.
             89          (5) For purposes of sentencing for a wildlife violation, a person who has been


             90      convicted of a third degree felony under Subsection (3)(a) is not subject to the mandatory
             91      sentencing requirements prescribed in Subsection [ 76-3-203 (4)] 76-3-203.8 (3).
             92          (6) As part of any sentence imposed, the court shall impose a sentence of incarceration
             93      of not less than 20 consecutive days for any person convicted of a third degree felony under
             94      Subsection (3)(a)(ii) who captured, injured, or destroyed a trophy animal for pecuniary gain.
             95          (7) If a person has already been convicted of a third degree felony under Subsection
             96      (3)(a)(ii) once, each separate further offense under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) is punishable by, as
             97      part of any sentence imposed, a sentence of incarceration of not less than 20 consecutive days.
             98          (8) The court may not sentence a person subject to Subsection (6) or (7) to less than 20
             99      consecutive days of incarceration or suspend the imposition of the sentence unless the court
             100      finds mitigating circumstances justifying lesser punishment and makes that finding a part of the
             101      court record.
             102          Section 2. Section 76-3-203 is amended to read:
             103           76-3-203. Felony conviction -- Indeterminate term of imprisonment.
             104          [(1) As used in this section, "dangerous weapon" has the same definition as in Section
             105      76-1-601 .]
             106          [(2)] A person who has been convicted of a felony may be sentenced to imprisonment
             107      for an indeterminate term as follows:
             108          [(a)] (1) In the case of a felony of the first degree, unless the statute provides otherwise,
             109      for a term of not less than five years[, unless otherwise specifically provided by law,] and
             110      which may be for life[, but if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a dangerous
             111      weapon was used in the commission or furtherance of the felony, the court shall sentence the
             112      person convicted for a term of not less than six years, and which may be for life].
             113          [(b)] (2) In the case of a felony of the second degree, unless the statute provides
             114      otherwise, for a term of not less than one year nor more than 15 years[, but if the trier of fact
             115      finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a dangerous weapon was used in the commission or
             116      furtherance of the felony, the court shall sentence the person convicted for a term of not less
             117      than two years nor more than 15 years; and the court may sentence the person convicted for a
             118      term of not less than two years nor more than 20 years].
             119          [(c)] (3) In the case of a felony of the third degree, unless the statute provides
             120      otherwise, for a term not to exceed five years[, but if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable


             121      doubt that a dangerous weapon was used in the commission or furtherance of the felony, the
             122      court shall sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than one year nor more than five
             123      years; and the court may sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than one year nor
             124      more than ten years].
             125          [(d) If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that any person who has been
             126      sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a felony in which a dangerous weapon was used in the
             127      commission of or furtherance of the felony and is subsequently convicted of another felony
             128      when a dangerous weapon was used in the commission of or furtherance of the felony shall, in
             129      addition to any other sentence imposed, be sentenced for an indeterminate term to be not less
             130      than five nor more than ten years to run consecutively and not concurrently.]
             131          Section 3. Section 76-3-203.2 is amended to read:
             132           76-3-203.2. Definitions -- Use of dangerous weapon in offenses committed on or
             133      about school premises -- Enhanced penalties.
             134          (1) (a) As used in this section and Section 76-10-505.5 , "on or about school premises"
             135      means any of the following:
             136          (i) in a public or private elementary, secondary, or on the grounds of any of those
             137      schools;
             138          (ii) in a public or private vocational school or postsecondary institution or on the
             139      grounds of any of those schools or institutions;
             140          (iii) in those portions of any building, park, stadium, or other structure or grounds
             141      which are, at the time of the act, being used for an activity sponsored by or through a school or
             142      institution under Subsections (1)(a)(i) and (ii);
             143          (iv) in or on the grounds of a preschool or child-care facility; and
             144          (v) within 1,000 feet of any structure, facility, or grounds included in Subsections
             145      (1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv).
             146          (b) As used in this section:
             147          (i) "Dangerous weapon" has the same definition as in Section 76-1-601 .
             148          (ii) "Educator" means any person who is employed by a public school district and who
             149      is required to hold a certificate issued by the State Board of Education in order to perform
             150      duties of employment.
             151          (iii) "Within the course of employment" means that an educator is providing services or


             152      engaging in conduct required by the educator's employer to perform the duties of employment.
             153          (2) Any person who, on or about school premises, commits any offense and uses or
             154      threatens to use a dangerous weapon, as defined in Section 76-1-601 , in the commission of the
             155      offense is subject to an enhanced degree of offense as provided in Subsection (4).
             156          (3) (a) Any person who commits an offense against an educator when the educator is
             157      acting within the course of employment is subject to an enhanced degree of offense as provided
             158      in Subsection (4).
             159          (b) As used in Subsection (3)(a), "offense" means:
             160          (i) an offense under Title 76, Chapter 5, Offenses Against The Person; and
             161          (ii) an offense under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 3, Robbery.
             162          (4) If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, while on or
             163      about school premises, commits any offense and in the commission of the offense uses or
             164      threatens to use a dangerous weapon, or that the defendant committed an offense against an
             165      educator when the educator was acting within the course of his employment, the enhanced
             166      penalty for a:
             167          (a) class B misdemeanor is a class A misdemeanor;
             168          (b) class A misdemeanor is a third degree felony;
             169          (c) third degree felony is a second degree felony; or
             170          (d) second degree felony is a first degree felony.
             171          (5) The enhanced penalty for a first degree felony offense of a convicted person:
             172          (a) is imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and which may be for life, and
             173      imposition or execution of the sentence may not be suspended unless the court finds that the
             174      interests of justice would be best served and states the specific circumstances justifying the
             175      disposition on the record; and
             176          (b) is subject also to the dangerous weapon enhancement provided in Section
             177      [ 76-3-203 ] 76-3-203.8 except for an offense committed under Subsection (3) that does not
             178      involve a firearm.
             179          (6) The prosecuting attorney, or grand jury if an indictment is returned, shall provide
             180      notice upon the information or indictment that the defendant is subject to the enhanced degree
             181      of offense or penalty under Subsection (4) or (5).
             182          (7) In cases where an offense is enhanced pursuant to Subsection (4)(a), (b), (c), or (d),


             183      or under Subsection (5)(a) for an offense committed under Subsection (2) that does not involve
             184      a firearm, the convicted person is not subject to the dangerous weapon enhancement in Section
             185      [ 76-3-203 ] 76-3-203.8 .
             186          Section 4. Section 76-3-203.8 is enacted to read:
             187          76-3-203.8. Increase of sentence if dangerous weapon used.
             188          (1) As used in this section, "dangerous weapon" has the same definition as in Section
             189      76-1-601 .
             190          (2) If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a dangerous weapon was
             191      used in the commission or furtherance of a felony, the court:
             192          (a) (i) shall increase by one year the minimum term of the sentence applicable by law;
             193      and
             194          (ii) if the minimum term applicable by law is zero, shall set the minimum term as one
             195      year; and
             196          (b) may increase by five years the maximum sentence applicable by law in the case of a
             197      felony of the second or third degree.
             198          (3) If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a person has been sentenced
             199      to a term of imprisonment for a felony in which a dangerous weapon was used in the
             200      commission of or furtherance of the felony and that person is subsequently convicted of
             201      another felony in which a dangerous weapon was used in the commission of or furtherance of
             202      the felony, the court shall, in addition to any other sentence imposed including those in
             203      Subsection (2), impose an indeterminate prison term to be not less than five nor more than ten
             204      years to run consecutively and not concurrently.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-21-03 10:02 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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