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385 P.3d 685
Utah Ct. App.
2016
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Background

  • Rivera, while on probation, obtained her coworker Victim’s personal/financial information and opened multiple credit cards in Victim’s name, using them for purchases and bragging about it.
  • Victim discovered the fraud after collection notices; police investigation led to charges of identity fraud and forgery.
  • Rivera, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and found competent to stand trial, pled "guilty with a mental illness" to one forgery and three identity-fraud third-degree felonies as part of a global resolution.
  • At sentencing the court ordered a presentence investigation report (PSI); defense counsel sought a 10-day continuance claiming late delivery of the PSI under the statutory three-working-day rule. The court denied the continuance but gave 90 extra minutes for corrections. Rivera presented corrections and victim-impact testimony.
  • The court sentenced Rivera to concurrent terms of 0–5 years on each count (declining consecutive terms) and relied on prison mental-health services for treatment. Rivera later filed additional PSI corrections and moved to correct sentence under section 77-16a-104; the motion was denied. She appealed.

Issues

Issue Plaintiff's Argument Defendant's Argument Held
Whether trial court abused discretion by denying 10-day continuance to review PSI Rivera: statutory three-working-day PSI delivery entitled her to additional time and continuance to prepare objections State: trial court has discretion over continuances; any PSI delivery failures are department's duty and not mandatory relief Court: No reversible abuse; even if discretion exercised, Rivera showed no prejudice because she presented objections at sentencing and later submitted corrections to Board of Pardons
Whether prison sentence was excessive Rivera: court failed to consider legally relevant factors and imposed excessive sentence State: sentencing was within court’s discretion given victim harm balanced against mental illness Court: Claim inadequately briefed—appellant offered only conclusory assertions and failed to support with record; issue not adjudicated on merits
Whether Rivera was entitled to a formal mental-health hearing under § 77-16a-103 Rivera: trial court should have held a § 77-16a-103 hearing regarding her mental illness at sentencing State: trial court considered and applied § 77-16a-104 (procedure following guilty-with-mental-illness finding) as urged by Rivera below Court: Argument barred by invited-error doctrine—Rivera urged the court to apply § 77-16a-104 and cannot now complain that a different provision should have been used

Key Cases Cited

  • State v. Madsen, 57 P.3d 1134 (Utah Ct. App. 2002) (interpreting that the PSI delivery requirement is directed to the department and does not limit trial-court discretion)
  • State v. Abelon, 369 P.3d 113 (Utah Ct. App. 2016) (harmlessness and effect of unaddressed PSI objections on review)
  • State v. Monroe, 345 P.3d 755 (Utah Ct. App. 2015) (remand for PSI corrections not required where report was already forwarded)
  • Van Cott v. Wall, 178 P. 42 (Utah 1918) (invited-error principle: a party cannot complain on appeal about an error it induced)
Read the full case

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Rivera
Court Name: Court of Appeals of Utah
Date Published: Sep 22, 2016
Citations: 385 P.3d 685; 822 Utah Adv. Rep. 4; 2016 Utah App. LEXIS 207; 2016 UT App 202; 2016 WL 5335428; 20140083-CA
Docket Number: 20140083-CA
Court Abbreviation: Utah Ct. App.
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    State v. Rivera, 385 P.3d 685