By Robert Gherke | The Salt Lake Tribune | Photo by Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune

Last year, an 18-year-old Utahn was staring at the potential of years in prison, accused of having sex with a 13-year-old.

Plea bargain negotiations were at an impasse. Then the Utah Legislature — based on an initial suggestion from Senate President J. Stuart Adams — changed the law.

Two months later, prosecutors offered the 18-year-old, who is related to Adams, a plea deal. The teen would plead guilty to reduced charges, face no additional jail time beyond a week already served, and would not have to register as a sex offender.

The new law was not made retroactive, and the teenager was not charged with the new lower-level crime it created. But in court hearings, the judge, the prosecutor and defense attorney Cara Tangaro — who helped draft the bill language that was adopted by the Legislature — all acknowledged it was pivotal to resolving the charges against the 18-year-old.

“You saw the legislative change,” Tangaro told Judge Rita Cornish at sentencing. “We all agree that’s not retroactive, but the government did change their offer based on that.”

The change in the law created a new option for prosecutors in narrow circumstances, specifically in cases that involve 13-year-old victims.

Read more at SLTrib.com.

This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.