District Sentencing

D. Utah · Sex AbuseFY2018–FY2025

Districts › District of Utah

Sex Abuse in the District of Utah

D. Utah · Tenth Circuit · Sex Abuse nationally

The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.

26cases, FY2025172 over FY2018–FY2025
96median prison monthsnational, this offence: 180
32%within guideline rangenational 41%
—cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
<10
12%
33%
18%
19%
<10
<10
median 96 mo
under 6 mo6–11 mo1–2 yr2–3 yr3–5 yr5–10 yr10–15 yr15–20 yr20–30 yr30 yr+life
Share of cases with a prison term, by length of the term (169 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: sexual abuse offences nationally.

Interquartile range 60–168 months; mean 107. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

172 sexual abuse offences were sentenced in the District of Utah across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 26 of them in FY2025; that is 3% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 96 months (8 years), shorter than the national median for sexual abuse offences (180 months) and shorter than the Tenth Circuit median (164). Half of prison terms fell between 60 and 168 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

32% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 41%); 51% were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had more cases than FY2018 (26 against 20). The median prison term in FY2025 (120 months) was longer than in FY2018 (96 months).

These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.

§ 3Position relative to the guideline range

Within guideline range 32%Above range 13%Below range, government sponsored 51%Below range, other <10Not determinable 0

§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation

MeasureD. Utah, sex abuseD. Utah, all offences10th Cir., sex abuseUS, sex abuse
Cases per fiscal year227051211,239
Share of district caseload3.0%100%——
Median prison months9630164180
Mean prison months10742—212
Cases with a prison term—86%98%99%
Within guideline range32%23%40%41%
Above range13%2%8%5%
Below range, government sponsored51%63%36%29%
Below range, other—11%15%26%
Median final offence level3118—37

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

20
12
17
14
27
37
19
26
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Sex Abuse cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
96
51
80
90
60
108
90
120
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
Fiscal yearCasesPrisonMedian monthsWithin rangeBelow, gov.Below, otherAbove
FY201820—9655%——0%
FY201912100%51————
FY202017100%80—59%——
FY202114100%90——0%—
FY202227—60—52%——
FY202337—108—73%——
FY202419100%90—53%0%—
FY202526100%12046%39%——

§ 6Criminal history

Category I55% · 67%
Category II16% · 10%
Category III17% · 9%
Category IV<10
Category V<10
Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: sexual abuse offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.

§ 8Questions and answers

What is the typical sentence for sexual abuse offences in the District of Utah?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 96 months (8 years), with the middle half of terms between 60 and 168 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

51% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 32% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% over the same period. The district's figures are below on median term and lower than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2G1.3 and §2G2.1.

Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

§ 9Other offence types in the District of Utah

§ 10Provenance

Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 27; district is CIRCDIST 84. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.