Increase of sentence for violent felony if body armor used.
Utah Code § 76-3-203.7
in effect76-3-203.7. Increase of sentence for violent felony if body armor used.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Body armor" means any material designed or intended to provide bullet penetration resistance or protection from bodily injury caused by a dangerous weapon.
(b) "Dangerous weapon" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-1-101.5.
(c) "Violent felony" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-3-203.5.
(2) A person convicted of a violent felony may be sentenced to imprisonment for an indeterminate term, as provided in Section 76-3-203, but if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant used, carried, or possessed a dangerous weapon and also used or wore body armor, with the intent to facilitate the commission of the violent felony, and the violent felony is:
(a) a first degree felony, the court shall sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than six years, and which may be for life;
(b) a second degree felony, the court shall sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than two years nor more than 15 years, and the court may sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than two years nor more than 20 years; and
(c) a third degree felony, the court shall sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than one year nor more than five years, and the court may sentence the person convicted for a term of not less than one year nor more than 10 years.
(3) The sentencing enhancement described in this section does not apply if:
(a) the offense for which the person is being sentenced is:
(i) a grievous sexual offense;
(ii) child kidnapping, Section 76-5-301.1;
(iii) aggravated kidnapping, Section 76-5-302; or
(iv) forcible sexual abuse, Section 76-5-404; and
(b) applying the sentencing enhancement provided for in this section would result in a lower maximum penalty than the penalty provided for under the section that describes the offense for which the person is being sentenced.
Amended by Chapter 181, 2022 General Session
Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter3/76-3-S203.7.html?v=C76-3-S203.7_2022050420220504Fetched: 10/26/2026