State v. Lopez
Criminal | After a trial, a man was convicted of aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated murder. On appeal, he argued that his convictions should have merged and, alternatively, that the merger statute is unconstitutional.
State v. Nunez-Vasquez
Criminal | A man and the defendant got drunk together one evening. The man passed out. When he woke up, the man found his pants around his ankles and lube around his anus.
Pon v. Brewer
Protective Order | Brewer filed an objection to a commissioner’s permanent protective order 14 days after the order was entered. The district court dismissed the objection as untimely.
Arriaga v. State
Criminal | During his hearing where he pleaded guilty to murder, the defendant made two statements in Spanish that he was defending himself against the victim when he shot the victim. After a statement from defense counsel, the district court accepted the guilty plea.
State v. Bell
Criminal | After a three-year-old child accused the defendant of showing her pornographic material, putting his “wee-wee” on her “no-no,” and putting his finger “under her bum,” the defendant was charged with and convicted of rape of a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and dealing in materials harmful
In re B.T.B
Child Welfare | The juvenile courts terminated Father’s parental rights, and in so doing addressed whether termination was “strictly necessary”—a phrase that had been added to the termination statute, Utah Code § 78A-6-507. Father appealed, and the Utah Court of Appeals clarified the analysis the juvenile court should have used
Young v. Hagel
Civil Procedure | After years of vigorous child custody litigation, Young and Hagel mediated a new issue. After the mediation, Hagel’s counsel withdrew without a court order, incorrectly representing that no motions were pending before the court.
State v. Steffen
Criminal | After a six-day jury trial, the jury acquitted the defendant of ten charges, but convicted him of child endangerment, lewdness involving a child, and aggravated child sexual abuse. The Utah Court of Appeals affirmed, holding:
State v. Holm
Criminal | The defendant ran a red light and hit another car, causing the death of a passenger. After a trial and an appeal, the defendant was tried again by jury, and the jury convicted him of negligent homicide.
State v. Brotherson
Criminal | A defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and burglary, and after successfully completing his probation, sought a reduction in the level of his convictions under Utah Code § 76-3-402. The district court denied the motion.