Utah Code § 76-2-304

Ignorance or mistake of fact or law
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(1) Unless otherwise provided, ignorance or mistake of fact which disproves the culpable mental state is a defense to any prosecution for that crime. (2) Ignorance or mistake concerning the existence or meaning of a penal law is no defense to a crime unless: (a) due to an actor's ignorance or mistake, the actor reasonably believed the actor's conduct did not constitute an offense; and (b) an actor's ignorance or mistake resulted from the actor's reasonable reliance upon: (i) an official statement of the law contained in a written order or grant of permission by an administrative agency charged by law with responsibility for interpreting the law in question; or (ii) a written interpretation of the law contained in an opinion of a court of record or made by a public servant charged by law with responsibility for interpreting the law in question. (3) Although an actor's ignorance or mistake of fact or law may constitute a defense to the offense charged, the actor may nevertheless be convicted of a lesser included offense of which the actor would be guilty if the fact or law were as the actor believed.

‹ Prev All Utah sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.