Legal Question in Criminal Law in Utah

I will try to make this short and to the point. I am a mother of 4 boys. My oldest whom was under the age of 21 he was 19 or 20 when an older lady in her late 30 gave him drugs and got him to marry her. My question is ... is there any law against ruining my child's life . he was not even old enough to buy beer so I feel that in real the lady that gave him the drugs for the first time should be sued or prosecuted. Now my son is divorced and he battles drug addiction. while she carries on her life. she ruined his. Maybe if we prosecuted the people who gave the drugs and ruined there life to begin with they would think twice about giving some one drugs that has never done them . My theory that would in return stop it some all together. I feel she should pay for counseling hardships and all other bad that has happen to my son. She herself being on drugs and for sometime has had to know the bad of the drug . its like intentionally giving someone a sickness. That's not legal right.. what do I do ...I am angry and I think that something needs to be done .


Asked on 10/14/15, 8:23 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brian Jackson Brian K. Jackson, LLC

If you would want her to be prosecuted for the crime you would have to talk to the district attorney for the county in which it happened. It would be up to the prosecutor on whether or not there is enough evidence to convict her a crime which would in this case most likely be distribution of alcohol of drugs to an individual to a minor. She would only pay the penalty that the statute authorizes under that crime. She most likely would not have to pay for the counseling and again it would be up to the DA if they even want to charge her with a crime.

If you wanted her to pay for counseling and for what has happened in his life, the best way would be to take it to civil court. You would have to prove that she was the one that caused the injury to him and it wasn't by his own choice. Then a judge could decide whether or not she should have to pay for the counseling and other injuries your son has suffered.

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Answered on 10/14/15, 3:38 pm


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