Utah Code » Title 76, Chapter 8 — Offenses Against the Administration of Government; part 76-8-5 — Falsification in Official Matters
Utah Code

Utah Code § 76-8-511 (2026)

Falsification or alteration of a government record

✓ current as of May 2026
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Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-8-101, and 76-8-501 apply to this section.
An actor commits falsification or alteration of a government record if, under circumstances not amounting to an offense subject to a greater penalty under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 5, Fraud, the actor:
knowingly makes a false entry in or false alteration of anything belonging to, received, or kept by the government for information or record, or required by law to be kept for information of the government;
presents or uses anything knowing it to be false and with a purpose that it be taken as a genuine part of information or record referred to in Subsection (2)(a); or
intentionally destroys, conceals, or otherwise impairs the verity or availability of the information or record, knowing that the destruction, concealment, or impairment is unlawful.
A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2023 · leading case: State v. Jensen, 2004 UT App 467 (Utah Ct. App. 2004).
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State v. Jensen, 2004 UT App 467 (Utah Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 10× “3 However, Jensen argues that because section 76-6-503 proscribes the same conduct as section 76-8-504(1), 4 prohibiting written false statements, and section 76-8-511, 5 *956 prohibiting the falsification of government records, the trial court erred by not sentencing him under…”
Barrera-Quintero v. Holder, Jr., 699 F.3d 1239 (10th Cir. 2012). “He pleaded guilty to violating Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-511 , which prohibits the falsification or alteration of government records.”
P.S. v. State, 38 P.3d 303 (Utah Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 6× “§ 76-6-501 (1999), and reducing it to falsification of government records, a class B misdemeanor, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-511 (1999). We reverse and remand for further proceedings.”
State v. Eaton, 701 P.2d 496 (Utah 1985). “, 1953, § 76-8-511). The jury found defendant guilty of tampering with evidence, a second degree felony.”
Capener v. Napolitano, 981 F. Supp. 2d 1119 (D. Utah 2013). · cites it 2× “) On July 19, 2000, Plaintiff pled in abeyance to a class C misdemeanor violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-511 for falsifying or altering government records.”
State Ex Rel. Ps, 2001 UT App 305 (Utah Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 6× “§ 76-6-501 (1999), and reducing it to falsification of government records, a class B misdemeanor, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-511 (1999). We reverse and remand for further proceedings.”
State v. York, 2018 UT App 90 (Utah Ct. App. 2018). “§ 76-8-511; impersonating an officer, id.”
Chaudhari v. Mayorkas (D. Utah 2023). “§ 76-8-511 , but the charges were later dismissed by the state court.”
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