The Appellate Group

State v. Dente

State v. Dente, 2025 UT App 95 (Harris, J.)

Criminal

The Utah Court of Appeals held:

  • After the defendant pled guilty to sex crime, the district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding the plea was made knowingly and voluntarily. 
  • Practice tip: Utah’s sex-offender registry requirement is a collateral consequence of pleading guilty to sex crimes, and a defendant need not be made aware of that requirement in order for their plea to be knowing. 

Read the full court opinion