Utah Criminal Defense Attorney

Andrew McAdams — Criminal Defense Attorney for Serious Felonies, Investigations, and High-Stakes Cases in Northern Utah.

If you are under criminal investigation or facing serious criminal charges in Utah, the decisions you make right now — before charges are filed, before speaking with law enforcement, and before evidence is fully developed — can significantly affect the outcome of your case.

Most criminal defense attorneys have never stood on the other side of a courtroom evaluating whether felony charges should be filed. Andrew McAdams has. As a former prosecutor with the Cache County Attorney's Office and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office — one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the United States — he spent years reviewing evidence, working alongside detectives and investigators during active criminal investigations, evaluating charging decisions, and preparing serious felony cases for trial. He understands how prosecutors analyze cases, where investigations are often vulnerable, and how early strategic decisions can shape the direction of a case long before it reaches a jury.

That prosecutorial experience is now used exclusively in your defense.

Andrew McAdams represents clients facing criminal investigations and pre-charge matters, serious felony charges, sex crimes allegations, violent crimes charges, white collar and financial crime allegations, serious felony matters, and other high-stakes criminal cases throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Cache, and Box Elder counties. He regularly appears in district courts, justice courts, and municipal courts across the region.

Whether you have been formally charged or have only recently learned you may be under investigation, early legal intervention changes outcomes. Statements made to law enforcement, evidence gathered during searches, digital records, and witness accounts can define a case long before it reaches a courtroom. Having an attorney who understands how that investigative process works — from the inside — is a strategic advantage most defendants never have access to.

Call (801) 449-1247 to speak directly with Andrew or schedule your confidential consultation. Consultations are available for active investigations, pending charges, and pre-charge matters.

WHAT YOU DO NEXT MATTERS

Many criminal cases are shaped long before they ever reach a courtroom. Detectives gather statements, review digital evidence, interview witnesses, execute search warrants, analyze forensic information, and present investigative findings to prosecutors who decide whether charges should be filed and how aggressively a case will be pursued.

What many people do not realize is that prosecutors often begin evaluating the strength of a case early in the investigative process. Text messages, phone data, social media activity, witness credibility, financial records, surveillance footage, and decisions made during the first stages of an investigation can all influence how a case develops — sometimes before a suspect even knows they are under investigation.

Early legal representation is not simply about responding after charges are filed. It involves protecting constitutional rights, preventing avoidable mistakes, preserving favorable evidence, and strategically navigating interactions with law enforcement before critical decisions are made by investigators or prosecutors.

An attorney who understands how criminal investigations are built — and how prosecutors evaluate evidence — brings a strategic perspective that most defense attorneys simply do not have.

MEET ANDREW MCADAMS

FORMER FELONY PROSECUTOR | CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY | 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Andrew McAdams is a Northern Utah criminal defense attorney and the founder of McAdams Law PLLC. For more than two decades, he has worked inside the criminal justice system — first as a prosecutor, then as a defense attorney representing individuals facing some of the most serious criminal allegations the Utah courts handle.

Before focusing exclusively on criminal defense, Andrew served as a prosecutor with the Cache County Attorney's Office and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the United States. In that role, he worked directly alongside detectives and investigators during active criminal investigations, reviewed evidence before charging decisions were made, negotiated serious felony matters, and tried criminal cases. He was not a prosecutor who handled minor matters — his focus was serious felony prosecution, the same category of cases he now defends.

That experience fundamentally changed how he approaches defense. Most defense attorneys encounter a case after charges have already been filed and the prosecution's theory is already formed. Andrew understands what happened before that — how investigators built the case, what evidence was prioritized, what inconsistencies were noted, and where the prosecution's confidence in its own case may be misplaced. That inside knowledge is not something that can be learned from the defense side of the courtroom.

As a prosecutor reviewing criminal case files, Andrew learned that the earliest stages of an investigation frequently shape the trajectory of the entire case. Statements made during interviews, digital communications, witness inconsistencies, forensic evidence, and investigative decisions often become the foundation prosecutors later rely upon during plea negotiations, evidentiary motions, and trial preparation. Understanding how those decisions are made — from inside the system — provides a level of strategic insight that most defense attorneys simply cannot offer.

Andrew has handled thousands of criminal matters across his career, from pre-charge investigations and felony prosecutions to serious felony trials and contested evidentiary proceedings. He approaches each case with careful preparation, direct communication, and a strategic analysis grounded in a practical understanding of how the criminal justice system actually operates — not just how it appears from the outside.

Most defense attorneys have never prosecuted a case. That experience matters when your future is on the line.

HOW Andrew McAdams APPROACHES YOUR CASE

Facing criminal allegations creates uncertainty about what comes next. In many cases, people are forced to make critical decisions while investigators are actively gathering evidence, reviewing digital records, interviewing witnesses, and evaluating whether formal charges should be filed. The pressure to act — and the fear of acting wrongly — can be significant.

Andrew works directly with each client to explain what is happening, identify the legal issues present in the case, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, and develop a strategy tailored to the specific facts and circumstances involved. Clients understand where their case stands, what risks exist, what options are available, and how decisions made early in the process may affect the outcome.

Every case involves different facts, different investigative challenges, and different legal risks. Effective criminal defense requires careful analysis, decisive strategy, and a clear understanding of how prosecutors and investigators think — and how to use that understanding to your advantage.

CASES McADAMS LAW PLLC HANDLES

Andrew McAdams represents individuals facing serious criminal allegations throughout Northern Utah. Every case type listed below involves situations where having an attorney who has stood on the prosecution side of the courtroom — who understands how investigators build cases, how prosecutors evaluate evidence, and how charging decisions are actually made — provides a strategic advantage that most criminal defense attorneys simply cannot offer.

Criminal investigations and pre-charge representation — Many of the most consequential decisions in a criminal case are made before charges are ever filed. Detectives are already gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing investigative reports for prosecutors evaluating how aggressively to pursue a case — often before the person under investigation fully understands what is happening. Andrew regularly represents individuals at this critical stage, providing strategic guidance before prosecutors finalize decisions that will shape everything that follows. For individuals who believe they may be under investigation, speaking with a former prosecutor about criminal investigation defense as early as possible can make a significant difference.

Serious felony defense — First-degree felonies, second-degree felonies, and complex multi-count prosecutions carry life-altering consequences. Having prosecuted serious felonies himself, Andrew understands precisely how these cases are built, how prosecutors evaluate evidence and witness credibility, and where the foundations of a felony prosecution are most likely to be vulnerable. For individuals facing serious felony charges in Utah, that prosecutorial perspective is a strategic advantage that most defense attorneys simply cannot offer.

Sex crimes allegations and internet-based investigations — These cases move quickly, involve extensive digital evidence collection, and carry devastating consequences even before formal charges are filed. As a former prosecutor, Andrew understands how these investigations develop internally — how digital evidence is analyzed, how credibility assessments are made, and how investigative momentum can shape a case before all relevant evidence has been fully evaluated. Anyone facing sex crimes allegations or an internet-based investigation in Utah should seek legal representation immediately.

Violent crimes defense — Assault, aggravated assault, domestic violence, homicide-related charges, and weapons allegations frequently involve conflicting witness accounts, forensic disputes, and aggressive law enforcement responses. Andrew understands how prosecutors evaluate intent, assess self-defense claims, and build violent crimes cases for trial — because he built those cases himself. Individuals facing violent crimes charges in Utah benefit directly from that prosecutorial insight at every stage of the defense.

Drug crimes defense — Drug charges in Utah range from possession allegations to serious distribution and trafficking cases carrying major felony exposure. Search and seizure issues, confidential informant reliability, and investigative procedures often determine how these cases are defended. As a former prosecutor, Andrew understands how drug investigations are structured and where constitutional and evidentiary challenges are most likely to have impact. For individuals facing drug crimes charges in Utah, understanding how investigators built the case is often the first step in identifying how to challenge it.

Weapons and firearm defense — Weapons charges frequently arise alongside other serious criminal allegations and can significantly elevate sentencing exposure even when the underlying facts are genuinely disputed. These cases often involve search and seizure issues, constructive possession disputes, and sentencing enhancement challenges that require careful constitutional and evidentiary analysis from the earliest stage. Individuals facing weapons and firearm charges in Utah should understand the full scope of sentencing exposure before making any decisions about how to proceed.

Obstruction and investigation-related offenses — Obstruction charges and witness tampering allegations frequently arise directly from police contact and the investigative process itself. These cases are particularly dependent on an attorney who understands how investigators interpret statements, conduct, and intent in real time — before a person realizes that their interactions with law enforcement are being evaluated as potential criminal conduct. For individuals facing obstruction or investigation-related charges in Utah, early legal involvement is critical precisely because these charges often develop from situations that did not initially appear to involve criminal exposure.

Theft, burglary, and property crimes — Felony theft, burglary, forgery, and related property offenses often involve documentary evidence, financial records, surveillance, and intent disputes that require careful analysis of how investigators characterized the conduct involved. What begins as a straightforward allegation can escalate quickly based on alleged value, prior history, and prosecutorial discretion in how charges are framed. For individuals facing felony theft and property crimes charges in Utah, early strategic involvement can affect how those charging decisions are made.

White collar and financial crime defense — Fraud allegations, embezzlement cases, financial misconduct investigations, and professional licensing matters often develop differently than traditional criminal prosecutions — involving extended pre-charge investigations, document-heavy evidence review, and serious parallel consequences for employment and professional licensure before a single charge is filed. Andrew understands how prosecutors build financial crime cases internally and what effective defense requires when financial allegations place a person's career, reputation, and future at risk. For professionals and business owners facing white collar investigations or financial crime allegations in Utah, early legal representation during the investigative stage is often the most important decision in the entire case.

DUI and alcohol-related offenses — DUI charges carry consequences well beyond court appearances. Felony DUI, cases involving serious injury, and multiple-offense matters involve significant criminal exposure, mandatory sentencing considerations, professional licensing implications, and long-term record consequences. The administrative license process begins immediately — making early legal representation important from the first day. Individuals facing felony DUI or serious alcohol-related charges in Utah should understand that the window for early intervention in both the criminal and administrative proceedings is short.

Pardons and expungements — For individuals who have completed their sentence and are ready to move forward, Utah's expungement and pardon process can provide a meaningful path to clearing a criminal record and rebuilding what a conviction has affected. Andrew represents individuals seeking expungement of felony convictions, record sealing, and pardons through the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole — approaching the process with the same strategic analysis he brings to active criminal defense. For individuals ready to pursue Utah felony expungements or a pardon through the Board of Pardons and Parole, Andrew can evaluate eligibility and develop a strategy for moving forward.

If your situation involves a case type not listed here, or if you are uncertain whether you need legal representation, contact Andrew McAdams directly. Many of the most important conversations happen before a person is certain they need an attorney.

Call (801) 449-1247 or schedule your confidential consultation.

EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS

Andrew McAdams brings more than two decades of experience from both sides of the criminal justice system — first as a prosecutor handling serious felony matters, then as a criminal defense attorney representing individuals facing the most significant allegations Utah courts handle.

Before entering private practice, Andrew served as a prosecutor with the Cache County Attorney's Office, where he developed direct familiarity with Northern Utah's courts, prosecutors, and local criminal justice landscape. He subsequently served as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office — one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the United States — where his focus was serious felony prosecution involving high-stakes investigations, significant evidentiary issues, and major charging decisions. That combination of local experience and large-agency prosecution provides a perspective most Utah criminal defense attorneys simply do not have.

In addition to his prosecution and defense work, Andrew served on the faculty at Charlotte School of Law, where he taught legal writing and ethics. Teaching criminal law at the graduate level requires the kind of analytical precision and clarity that continues to shape how he evaluates cases, constructs legal arguments, and communicates strategy to clients.

Andrew earned his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law, where he received the National Moot Court Best Brief distinction at the regional level and was recognized for Best in Trial Practice — two honors that reflect the written and courtroom advocacy skills he brings to criminal defense today. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah.

He represents clients throughout Northern Utah in Utah state court matters involving serious felony charges, criminal investigations, and complex criminal allegations.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Should I hire a criminal defense attorney before I am charged?

In many situations, yes — and the earlier the better. Some of the most consequential decisions in a criminal case are made before formal charges are ever filed. Detectives may already be gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, reviewing digital records, and preparing investigative reports for prosecutors evaluating whether and how aggressively to pursue charges. Early legal representation can help protect constitutional rights, preserve favorable evidence, prevent mistakes that are difficult to undo, and allow for strategic positioning before prosecutors finalize their approach to your case.

What does it mean that Andrew McAdams is a former prosecutor?

Before focusing exclusively on criminal defense, Andrew served as a prosecutor with the Cache County Attorney's Office and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office — one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the United States. That experience provided firsthand insight into how prosecutors review evidence, evaluate witness credibility, prepare felony cases, and make charging decisions. Having worked from inside the prosecution side of the system, Andrew understands how criminal investigations are built, where they are often vulnerable, and how prosecutors internally evaluate the strength of developing cases. That knowledge now works exclusively in defense of his clients.

What should I do if I believe I am under criminal investigation?

Take it seriously and do not make impulsive decisions — particularly regarding contact with law enforcement. In many situations, investigators are already gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, reviewing digital communications, and preparing reports before a person fully understands the scope of what is happening. Speaking with law enforcement without legal guidance can create significant risks that are difficult to undo. Early legal representation can help you understand the nature of the investigation, protect your rights, and make informed decisions about how to respond before those decisions are made for you.

Should I speak with police or investigators without an attorney?

In most situations, speaking with investigators without legal representation involves serious risk — even for individuals who have done nothing wrong. Detectives are trained to gather information, identify inconsistencies, assess credibility, and collect statements that may later be used during charging decisions or prosecution. People frequently provide information they believe is helpful or harmless that investigators interpret very differently. Whether you should speak with law enforcement depends entirely on the specific facts and circumstances of your situation, which is exactly why speaking with Andrew McAdams before responding to any law enforcement contact is important.

How do prosecutors decide whether to file felony charges?

Prosecutors evaluate a combination of factors — witness credibility, digital evidence, forensic analysis, investigative reports, prior statements, available legal defenses, and the realistic likelihood of proving allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. In serious felony matters they also weigh how a case will appear to a jury, how reliable their witnesses are, and whether the physical evidence is strong enough to withstand challenge. What many people do not realize is that strategic decisions made during the investigative stage — including what statements have been made, what evidence has been preserved, and how constitutional issues have been handled — can significantly influence how prosecutors ultimately evaluate the strength of their case.

What happens during a criminal investigation in Utah?

Criminal investigations vary significantly depending on the nature of the allegations, but most involve some combination of witness interviews, search warrants, electronic device review, digital evidence analysis, forensic examination, financial record review, and surveillance. In serious cases, prosecutors often become involved before charges are filed and work alongside investigators while evaluating the evidence being gathered. The investigative process can move quickly and consequentially — which is why understanding what is happening and having experienced legal representation during that stage can matter as much as anything that follows.

How does a former prosecutor approach criminal defense differently?

A former prosecutor approaches defense with a specific and practical understanding of how the other side thinks, evaluates evidence, and makes decisions. Andrew understands how investigators organize cases for prosecutorial review, how prosecutors assess witness credibility and evidentiary strength, where investigations commonly develop weaknesses, and how charging decisions are approached internally. That perspective allows him to identify legal and strategic issues earlier, evaluate evidence with prosecutorial skepticism, and anticipate the moves a prosecutor is likely to make — before they make them.

What should I do if I have been accused of a sex crime in Utah?

Contact an attorney immediately — before speaking with law enforcement, before making any statements, and before taking any action regarding digital devices or communications. Sex crimes investigations move quickly and involve extensive digital evidence collection, witness interviews, and forensic analysis. The decisions made in the earliest stages of these investigations can be among the most consequential in the entire case. As a former prosecutor, Andrew understands how these investigations are built from the inside, what prosecutors look for during the evaluation stage, and what effective defense requires from the very beginning of an investigation.

REPRESENTING CLIENTS FROM OUT OF STATE — AND FAMILIES HIRING FROM A DISTANCE

Not every client who needs Utah criminal defense representation lives in Utah.

Criminal charges, active investigations, and pending felony matters in Utah frequently involve individuals who live in other states — or families who are trying to help a loved one navigate a serious legal situation from across the country. These are among the most stressful circumstances a family can face: a serious criminal allegation in an unfamiliar state, an unfamiliar court system, and the pressure of making an important legal decision without the ability to easily meet in person, visit the courthouse, or rely on a local network for referrals.

Andrew McAdams regularly works with out-of-state clients and with family members who are coordinating representation for a loved one facing charges in Northern Utah. Initial consultations are conducted by phone or video, case updates are provided directly and clearly, and clients understand exactly where their case stands without needing to travel to Utah for routine matters. For court appearances that do not require the client's presence, Andrew handles those appearances directly — reducing the burden of travel for individuals and families managing a Utah case from a distance.

What out-of-state clients and families are often most concerned about is whether an attorney they have never met in person — and selected based largely on what they found online — truly understands the local courts, the local prosecutors, and how cases of this type are typically handled in Utah. That concern is legitimate and worth addressing directly. Andrew has spent more than two decades working inside Northern Utah's criminal justice system, first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. He knows the courts, the local prosecutorial culture, and how serious criminal matters move through these specific jurisdictions. That local knowledge is exactly what an out-of-state client or family needs from Utah counsel — and it is not something that can be substituted by a general criminal defense background.

If you are out of state and trying to help a family member or loved one facing criminal allegations in Utah, or if you are facing Utah charges yourself and need representation you can manage remotely, contact Andrew McAdams directly. Distance does not have to be an obstacle to experienced, strategic criminal defense representation.

Call (801) 449-1247 or schedule your confidential consultation. Phone and video consultations are available.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE REPRESENTATION IN NORTHERN UTAH

McAdams Law PLLC is based in Bountiful and represents individuals facing serious criminal allegations throughout Northern Utah — appearing regularly in district courts, justice courts, and municipal courts across Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Cache, Summit, and Tooele counties.

Northern Utah encompasses a range of distinct jurisdictions, each with its own prosecutorial culture, court practices, and local legal landscape. From the high-volume criminal dockets of Salt Lake County and the district courts of Weber and Davis counties to the serious felony proceedings in Cache and Box Elder counties, the way cases are evaluated, negotiated, and tried can vary meaningfully depending on jurisdiction. Familiarity with local prosecutors, judges, and court procedures is not a minor advantage — in serious criminal cases it can directly affect how a case is positioned and how it resolves.

Andrew McAdams has spent more than two decades working inside Northern Utah's criminal justice system — first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney — developing a practical understanding of how cases move through these specific courts, how local prosecutors approach serious criminal allegations, and where strategic opportunities are most likely to emerge in each jurisdiction.

That local knowledge matters most in the cases where the stakes are highest. For individuals facing serious felony charges, active criminal investigations, or complex criminal allegations anywhere along the Wasatch Front, early involvement by an attorney who understands both the law and the local legal landscape can make a meaningful difference in how a case develops.

McAdams Law PLLC represents clients in Salt Lake County, Davis County, Weber County, Utah County, Cache County, Box Elder County, Summit County, and Tooele County, as well as surrounding Northern Utah communities including Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Salt Lake City, West Valley,West Jordan, Sandy, Draper, Provo, and Lehi.

SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH ANDREW MCADAMS ABOUT YOUR CASE

If you are facing criminal allegations, believe you may be under investigation, or have recently been contacted by law enforcement, the decisions you make now can affect everything that follows. Criminal investigations move quickly. The window for early strategic intervention is often shorter than people expect.

Andrew McAdams represents individuals throughout Northern Utah facing serious criminal allegations, active investigations, felony prosecutions, and other high-stakes criminal matters. Every consultation is confidential. Every case receives direct attorney involvement from the first conversation forward.

Call (801) 449-1247 to speak directly with Andrew or schedule a confidential consultation. Consultations are available for active investigations, pending charges, pre-charge matters, and individuals who have been contacted by law enforcement and are uncertain about their next step.