Utah Code » Title 76, Chapter 5 — Offenses Against the Individual; part 76-5-3 — Kidnapping, Trafficking, And Smuggling
Utah Code

Utah Code § 76-5-301 (2026)

Kidnapping

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this section:
"Against the will of an individual" includes without the consent of the legal guardian, caretaker, or custodian of an individual who is a dependent adult.
"Dependent adult" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-5-111.
"Minor" means an individual who is 14 years old or older but younger than 18 years old.
Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section.
An actor commits kidnapping if the actor intentionally or knowingly, without authority of law, and against the will of an individual:
detains or restrains the individual for any substantial period of time;
detains or restrains the individual in circumstances exposing the individual to risk of bodily injury;
holds the individual in involuntary servitude;
detains or restrains a minor without the consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian or the consent of a person acting in loco parentis; or
moves the individual any substantial distance or across a state line.
A violation of Subsection (2) is a second degree felony.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 38 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1977–2025 · leading case: State v. Perry, 899 P.2d 1232 (Utah Ct. App. 1995).
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State v. Perry, 899 P.2d 1232 (Utah Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 8× “See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (1)(a) (1995). We agree.”
State v. Diaz, 2002 UT App 288 (Utah Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 4× “Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (1999). When a kidnaping occurs under circumstances involving *1137 a charged companion criminal activity, [8] i.”
State v. Graham, 2006 UT 43 (Utah 2006). · cites it 10× “) Whether the State demonstrated a kidnapping as an aggravating factor pursuant to Utah Code section 76-5-202(l)(d); (3) Whether the State demonstrated that the homicide was accomplished in the course of committing the kidnapping as a predicate offense pursuant to Utah Code…”
United States v. Marlon Flores-Granados, 783 F.3d 487 (4th Cir. 2015). · cites it 3× “04; Utah Code Ann. §§ 76-5-301 , -302; Wash. Rev.”
State v. Carrera, 2022 UT App 100 (Utah Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 4× “¶34 Under Utah law, a person commits “kidnapping” if the person “intentionally or knowingly, without authority of law, and against the will of the victim .”
State v. Reigelsperger, 2017 UT App 101 (Utah Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (LexisNexis 2012) (providing that the applicable mens rea for kidnapping is intentional or knowing); id.”
United States v. Gonzalez-Ramirez, 477 F.3d 310 (5th Cir. 2007). · cites it 2× “§ 39-13-303(a) (2003); Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (1) (2003). 47 .”
State v. Dozah, 2016 UT App 13 (Utah Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “‛ See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (1) (LexisNexis 2012) (emphasis added).”
State v. Wilder, 2016 UT App 210 (Utah Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “” Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (LexisNexis 2012).”
State v. Kirby, 2016 UT App 193 (Utah Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “This argument is a red herring because once a person’s conduct meets the statutory definition of “kidnapping,” see Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (l)(a) (LexisNex-is 2012) (“An actor commits kidnapping if the actor intentionally or knowingly, .”
State v. White, 362 S.W.3d 559 (Tenn. 2012). “); Utah Code Ann. §§ 76-5-301 to -302 (West, Westlaw through 2011 Third Spec.”
State v. Codianna, 573 P.2d 343 (Utah 1977). · cites it 4× “Utah's kidnapping statute, Section 76-5-301, et seq., defines kidnapping as any detention or restraint of a person against the will of that person.”
Show all 38 citing cases →
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(1) — 4 cases
State v. Wright, 2019 UT App 66 (Utah Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Hawatmeh, 2001 UT 51 (Utah 2001).
State v. Peterson, 2020 UT App 47 (Utah Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Fowers, 2013 UT App 212 (Utah Ct. App. 2013).
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(1)(a) — 3 cases
State v. Perry, 899 P.2d 1232 (Utah Ct. App. 1995). “See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (1)(a) (1995). We agree.”
State v. Wright, 2019 UT App 66 (Utah Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Ellis, 2014 UT App 185 (Utah Ct. App. 2014).
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(1)(d) — 1 case
State v. Fowers, 2013 UT App 212 (Utah Ct. App. 2013).
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(2) — 2 cases
State v. Camara, 2023 UT App 106 (Utah Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Rodriguez, 2025 UT App 84 (Utah Ct. App. 2025).
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(2)(a) — 1 case
State v. Rodriguez, 2025 UT App 84 (Utah Ct. App. 2025).
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(2)(b) — 1 case
State v. Camara, 2023 UT App 106 (Utah Ct. App. 2023).
— Utah Code § 76-5-301(l)(a) — 2 cases
Zaragoza v. State, 2017 UT App 215 (Utah Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Perry, 899 P.2d 1232 (Utah Ct. App. 1995). “See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301 (1)(a) (1995). We agree.”
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