{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-76-5c-215","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 76-5c-215","heading":"Distributing obscene animal abuse material.","body":"(1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-5c-101, and 76-5c-201 apply to this section.\n(2) An actor commits distributing obscene animal abuse material if the actor:\n(a) sends or brings obscene animal abuse material into the state with intent to distribute or exhibit the obscene animal abuse material to another individual;\n(b) prepares, publishes, prints, or possesses obscene animal abuse material with intent to distribute or exhibit the obscene animal abuse material to another individual;\n(c) distributes or offers to distribute, or exhibits or offers to exhibit, obscene animal abuse material to another individual;\n(d) writes, creates, or solicits the publication or advertising of obscene animal abuse material; or\n(e) promotes the distribution or exhibition of obscene animal abuse material or material that the actor represents to be obscene animal abuse material.\n(3)\n(a) A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony if the actor is 18 years old or older and is subject to:\n(i) a minimum mandatory fine of not less than $1,000, plus $10 for each article exhibited up to the maximum allowed by law; and\n(ii) incarceration, without suspension of sentence in any way, for a term of not less than 30 days.\n(b) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class A misdemeanor if the actor is 16 or 17 years old.\n(c) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor if the actor is younger than 16 years old.\n(4) It is a separate offense under this section for:\n(a) each day in which a publication containing obscene animal abuse material is displayed or exhibited in a public place with intent to distribute or exhibit the publication to another individual; or\n(b) each act of distributing of obscene animal abuse material described in Subsection (2).\n(5)\n(a) This section does not apply to an internet service provider if:\n(i) the distribution of obscene animal abuse material by the internet service provider occurs only incidentally through the internet service provider's function of:\n(A) transmitting or routing data from one person to another person; or\n(B) providing a connection between one person and another person;\n(ii) the internet service provider does not intentionally aid or abet in the distribution of the obscene animal abuse material; and\n(iii) the internet service provider does not knowingly receive funds from or through a person who distributes the obscene animal abuse material in exchange for permitting the person to distribute the obscene animal abuse material.\n(b) This section does not apply to a hosting company if:\n(i) the distribution of obscene animal abuse material by the hosting company occurs only incidentally through the hosting company's function of providing data storage space or data caching to a person;\n(ii) the hosting company does not intentionally engage, aid, or abet in the distribution of the obscene animal abuse material; and\n(iii) the hosting company does not knowingly receive funds from or through a person who distributes the obscene animal abuse material in exchange for permitting the person to distribute, store, or cache the obscene animal abuse material.","path":["Title 76 Criminal Offenses","Chapter 76-5c Pornographic and Harmful Materials and Performances","Part 76-5c-2 General Offenses"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter5c/76-5c-S215.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"3d1b6283c373d46f73f38eda95094110dcce5420db3c6b6dc82274b28e27d6a4","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-76-5c-214","next":"us-ut/utah-code-76-5c-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}