Inventory of Criminal case files from District Court (Fifth District : Beaver County), 1896-

Series 24338

District Court (Fifth District : Beaver County) Criminal case files

Dates: 1896-

4.00 cubic feet and 6 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Scope and Content

Case files are made up of the various documents filed with the Fifth District Court in Beaver County pertaining to each specific case. The records usually contain information such as the case number, and the names of the defendants, counsel, jurors, and witnesses. The case file may include complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution or confinement, warrant returns, affidavits, orders, judgments, appeal notices. Files rarely include transcripts of testimony.

First, second, and third degree felony cases are the predominant case file type within this series (a major crime for which the maximum imprisonment is more than one year in a state correctional institution). This would include first degree offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and robbery, arson, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. Second degree offenses include: manslaughter, robbery, residential burglary, kidnapping, perjury, forgery, theft ofproperty valued over $1,000.00, forcible sexual abuse, and intentional child abuse. Third degree felonies include: burglary of non-dwellings, theft, aggravated assault, forgery, unlawful sexual intercourse, joyriding, possession with intent to distribute marijuana or cocaine, and false or forged prescriptions.

This series also contains misdemeanor cases which are punishable by a county jail term of up to one year and/or a fine. Misdemeanors include: negligent homicide, driving under the influence, theft, assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, trespassing, and possession of a concealed weapon.

Juvenile cases tried prior to 1907 can also be found in this series. In 1907, a separate statewide juvenile court was established allowing juvenile court jurisdiction in all matters involving children 18 years of age and younger, including parents and guardians of juvenile delinquents.

Missing cases should notbe found in appellate court records since the Supreme Court is required by law [Rule 76 (d)] to remit their decision to the District Court "together with such papers transmitted to the Supreme Court on appeal." Furthermore, Rule 75 (n) states that after the appeal has been disposed of, any original papers should be returned to the custody of the district court. Cases which are appealed to the District Court from lower courts will be found in this series.

Gaps in Series

Cases 55, 62, 89, 94, 103, 128, 136, 139, 158, 160, 177, 188, 200, 227, 339, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347, and 348 are missing.

Access Restrictions

This series is designated as Public.

Reproduction and Use

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Related Records

Criminal registers of actions from the District Court (Fifth District : Beaver County), Series 24378, contain register entries for criminal cases between 1896 and 1977.

General indexes to actions from the District Court (Fifth District : Beaver County), Series 24546, contains indexes for the various registers created by the court between 1896 and 1925.

Case indexes from the District Court (Fifth District : Beaver County), Series 24549, is comprised of three index books kept by the court to access civil and criminal cases between 1896 and 1998.

Indexing Terms

Court records--Utah--Beaver County.

REELBOXDATEDESCRIPTION
111896 - 19031-38
211903 - 191239-81
321912 - 191682-153
421916 - 1926154-186
431916 - 1926187-223
531926 - 1934224-280
541934281-285
641934 - 1955286-349