UTAH CRIMINAL
DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Former Prosecutor Defending
Serious Criminal Charges Across Northern Utah

Criminal cases are often decided long before trial. Investigators gather evidence, prosecutors evaluate witness credibility and charging decisions, and the direction of a case can shift early — sometimes before an arrest is ever made or formal charges are filed.

Andrew McAdams spent years on the prosecution side of that process. He now uses that experience to identify weaknesses in the investigation and intervene before the prosecution's theory is fully formed.

HOW CRIMINAL CASES ARE BUILT BEFORE CHARGES ARE FILED

Most people think a criminal case begins with an arrest. It usually doesn't.

By the time charges are filed, investigators have often already interviewed witnesses, reviewed digital communications, executed search warrants, and submitted a case for prosecutorial review. Prosecutors evaluate the strength of evidence, the credibility of witnesses, and the viability of charges — sometimes weeks or months before a defendant knows they are under investigation.

What happens during this stage matters more than most people realize. Statements made to police, evidence that goes unpreserved, and constitutional issues that go unidentified early can shape the entire trajectory of a case. Early legal intervention allows you to understand what investigators may already have, protect your rights before mistakes are made, challenge the foundation of the case while it is still being built, and develop a defense strategy based on how the case is actually likely to proceed — not how it looks after charges are filed.

If you are facing a criminal investigation or have already been charged with a serious felony, the earliest stages of a case are often the most consequential.

Call (801) 449-1247 to speak directly with an attorney or schedule your confidential consultation.

A DEFENSE BUILT ON PROSECUTORIAL INSIGHT

Andrew McAdams is a former felony prosecutor who has evaluated, charged, and tried serious criminal cases. That experience shapes how investigations are evaluated, how evidentiary weaknesses are identified, and how defense strategy is developed early.

Prosecutors make decisions based on what evidence they have, how strong their witnesses are, where the constitutional vulnerabilities in an investigation might be, and whether a case is likely to hold up at trial. Understanding how those decisions are made — and where they are most likely to break down — is the foundation of an effective defense strategy.

Every case at McAdams Law is prepared with the expectation that it will go to trial. That preparation strengthens negotiating positions, surfaces weaknesses in the evidence early, and ensures the defense is never built around assumptions about how a case will resolve.

If you are facing violent crimes, sex crimes, drug distribution charges, fraud or financial crimes, or other serious felony charges in Utah, understanding how the prosecution is likely to approach your case is the first step toward building an effective defense.

DIRECT REPRESENTATION FROM FIRST CONTACT THROUGH RESOLUTION

This is not a high-volume practice. Cases are not handed off to associates or managed at a distance.

Andrew McAdams works directly with every client throughout the life of a case — from the initial consultation through investigation, charging decisions, hearings, negotiations, and trial if necessary. That means consistent communication, a defense strategy that reflects the actual facts of your case, and an attorney who knows your file when it matters most.

For clients facing serious felony charges, violent crime allegations, or fraud and financial crime charges where the outcome will define the next decade of their life, that level of attention is not optional.

CRIMINAL CHARGES WE DEFEND IN UTAH

McAdams Law PLLC represents individuals facing serious criminal charges and active investigations across Utah.

Representation includes violent crimes such as assault and aggravated offenses, sex crimes and internet-based investigations, domestic violence allegations, drug possession and distribution charges, theft and property crimes, fraud and financial offenses including embezzlement, firearm-related charges, and DUI and alcohol-related offenses.

Detailed information about each of these charges is available throughout the criminal defense practice pages on this site.

MEET ANDREW MCADAMS

FORMER FELONY PROSECUTOR | TRIAL ATTORNEY | 20+ YEARS INSIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Andrew McAdams has spent more than two decades working inside Utah's criminal justice system — first as a felony prosecutor handling serious charges including violent crimes, sex offenses, and major drug cases, and now as a criminal defense attorney representing individuals facing those same charges.

That experience on both sides of the courtroom provides a practical understanding of how investigations develop, how charging decisions are made, how evidence is evaluated and prioritized, and where cases are most vulnerable to challenge.

He has handled thousands of criminal matters ranging from pre-charge investigations to serious felony prosecutions and contested evidentiary litigation. His prosecution background, trial experience, and approach to criminal defense are discussed in greater detail in his full biography.