Utah Code Title 77. Utah Code of Criminal Procedure § 77-2a-2. Plea in abeyance agreement--Negotiation--Contents--Terms of agreement--Waiver of time for sentencing

(1) At any time after acceptance of a plea of guilty or no contest but before entry of judgment of conviction and imposition of sentence, the court may, upon motion of both the prosecuting attorney and the defendant, hold the plea in abeyance and not enter judgment of conviction against the defendant nor impose sentence upon the defendant within the time periods contained in Rule 22(a), Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.

(2) A defendant shall be represented by counsel during negotiations for a plea in abeyance and at the time of acknowledgment and affirmation of any plea in abeyance agreement unless the defendant knowingly and intelligently waives the defendant's right to counsel.

(3) A defendant has the right to be represented by counsel at any court hearing relating to a plea in abeyance agreement.

(6) Notwithstanding Subsection (5), a plea may be held in abeyance for up to two years if the plea is to any class of misdemeanor and the plea in abeyance agreement includes a condition that the defendant participate in a problem solving court approved by the Judicial Council.

(7) A plea in abeyance agreement may not be approved unless the defendant, before the court, and any written agreement, knowingly and intelligently waives time for sentencing as designated in Rule 22(a), Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.