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