State v. Corbitt

2003 UT App 417, 82 P.3d 211, 488 Utah Adv. Rep. 3, 2003 Utah App. LEXIS 127, 2003 WL 22860880

• Court: Court of Appeals of Utah
• Decided: December 4, 2003
• Docket: 20020375-CA
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

BILLINGS, Associate Presiding Judge:

1 1 Jamil Corbitt appeals from an order of restitution stemming from his conviction for possession of a stolen vehicle, a second degree felony, in violation of Utah Code Annotated section 41-la-18316(2) (1998). We affirm.

BACKGROUND

[2 In January 2001, Roman and Francesca Lopez (the Lopezes) purchased a 1998 Dodge Dakota (the truck) from an auto dealership in Murray for $15,995.00. Concurrently, the Lopezes purchased a thirty-six month or 80,000 mile service contract for $1,999.00 and paid $1,123.92 for taxes and licensing fees. In total, the Lopezes paid $19,117.92. To finance the purchase, the Lo-pezes made a $500.00 down payment, traded in another vehicle for a net trade-in allowance of $1,475.00, and obtained a bank loan for the remaining balance of $17,142.92. The loan carried an annual interest rate of 16.6% and required monthly payments of $425.63 for sixty months.

138 About two weeks later, in February 2001, the truck was stolen from the Lopezes' residence. On the day of the theft, the Lo-pezes contacted police and their insurance company. The police listed the truck in the stolen vehicle database and began efforts to locate it. Ultimately, the insurance company took title to the truck and paid $12,489.10 to the Lopezes' lender. However, the Lopezes testified that they were still obligated to continue making monthly payments on the unpaid balance of their loan. Accordingly, the Lopezes made loan payments of $425.63 in both February and March 2001. By the time of the restitution hearing, the Lopezes testified they still owed $4,772.46 to the leader.

4 On April 16, 2001, during a traffic stop, a Salt Lake County Sheriff's deputy learned that Corbitt was driving the Lopezes' stolen truck. The State filed charges against Cor-bitt for illegal possession of a stolen vehicle. Corbitt admitted he knew the truck was stolen and pleaded guilty as charged.

15 As part of his sentence, the trial court ordered Corbitt to pay restitution to the Lopezes. Corbitt requested a restitution hearing. After the hearing, Corbitt was ordered to pay a total of $5,623.72 in restitution. At Corbitt's request, the trial court indicated on the record that $4,772.46 constituted "the difference between the price that was paid [for the truck] and what was paid to [the Lopezes] by [the] insurance company." The remaining $851.26 was for "the two [monthly loan] payments [the Lopezes] made while the [truck] was gone." The trial court issued written findings of fact and conclusions of law ordering Corbitt to pay the $5,623.72 in restitution in $150.00 monthly installment payments until the balance was repaid. Corbitt appeals.

ISSUE AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

16 Corbitt contends the trial court erred in ordering him to pay any restitution after the insurance company paid the Lo-pezes' claim. "Trial courts are vested with 'wide latitude and discretion in sentencing, " State v. Fedorowicz, 2002 UT 67, ¶ 63, 52 P.3d 1194 (quoting State v. Woodland, 945 P.2d 665, 671 (Utah 1997)), and we " 'will not disturb a trial court's restitution order unless it exceeds that prescribed by law or otherwise abused its discretion." " State v. Mast, 2001 UT App 402, ¶ 7, 40 P.3d 1143 (quoting State v. Breeze, 2001 UT App 200, ¶ 5, 29 P.3d 19). "[The exercise of discretion in sentencing necessarily reflects the personal judgment of the court and the appellate court can properly find abuse only if it can be said that no reasonable [person] would take the view adopted by the trial court." State v. Gerrard, 584 P.2d 885, 887 (Utah 1978).

ANALYSIS

I. Pecuniary Damages Under the Restitution Statute

T7 First, Corbitt argues the trial court erred in concluding the Lopezes suffered pecuniary damages. Corbitt asserts that under Utah Code Annotated sections Ti-838a-101 to -802 (Supp.2002) ¹ (the restitution statute), any losses the Lopezes sustained are not "pecuniary damages" of the type required for a crime victim to receive restitution. See id. § 77-382-102(6). Furthermore, Corbitt contends that any losses sustained by the Lopezes were not the result of Corbitt's admitted criminal conduct. See id. We disagree on both accounts.

T 8 The restitution statute provides:

"Pecuniary damages" means all special damages, but not general damages,[²] which a person could recover against the defendant in a civil action arising out of the facts or events constituting the defendant's criminal activities and includes the money equivalent of property taken, destroyed, broken, or otherwise harmed, and losses including earnings and medical expenses.

Id.

T9 "[T}he record in the case before us reflects that the State presented evidence which would support a civil conversion action against [Corbitt]," State v. McBride, 940 P.2d 539, 548 (Utah Ct.App.1997), as well as an award of damages from such an action. We have stated that generally, "the measure of damages in a conversion action is the value of the property at the time of the conversion, plus interest." Jenkins v. Equipment Ctr., Inc., 869 P.2d 1000, 1004 (Utah Ct.App.1994). Further, "[the damages in an action for conversion are measured by the sum of money necessary to compensate the plaintiff for all actual losses or injuries sustained as a natural and proximate result of the defendant's wrong." Id. (quotations and citations omitted). Finally, "[the primary objective in rendering an award of damages for conversion is to award the injured party full compensation for actual losses." Id. (quotations and citations omitted). Hence, "rules relating to the measure of damages are flexible, and can be modified in the interest of fairness." Id. (quotations and citations omitted).

{10 Corbitt argues that because the insurance company paid the Lopezeg' claim, the Lopezes were "fully reimbursed" for all losses they sustained and thus did not suffer pecuniary damages. Therefore, Corbitt argues that the trial court's order of restitution "go[es] beyond the victims' pecuniary damages [in] violation of the restitution statute." In support of this argument, Corbitt relies on State v. Twitchell, 882 P.2d 866 (Utah Ct.App.1992). We think Corbitt misreads the Twitchell holding.

T11 In Twitchell, the defendant admitted taking premium payments from his victims on nonexistent insurance policies. See id. at 867. However, the defendant argued that the misappropriated premium payments "did not represent ... actual loss[es] to the vie-tims" because "he paid any claims victims made on the nonexistent policies and victims who had no claims were no more damaged than if they had been fully insured." Id. at 868. As such, the defendant argued the misappropriated premium payments could not be legally classified as "pecuniary damages" under the restitution statute. Id. We rejected this argument as "untenable" and held "Itlhe [restitution] statute's definition of pecuniary damages includes the misappropriated policy payments ..., even though the victims were fortunate enough to suffer no major losses during the time they were uninsured." Id. at 869. Furthermore, "[the defendant] admitted in his plea agreement ... the very facts and elements necessary to prove liability in a civil proceeding for conversion." Id. at 870. As such, the losses created by the defendant's misappropriations in Twitchell constituted " 'special damages ..., which [the victims] could recover against the defendant in a civil action arising out of the facts or events constituting the defendant's criminal activities' " Id. at 869 (quoting Utah Code Aun. § 76-3-201(4)(b) (1990)). Based on this reasoning, we held the trial court did not abuse its discretion or exceed its legal authority by finding the victims' losses were " '[plecuniary damages' " under the restitution statute. Id. (quoting Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-201(4)(b) (1990)).

112 Similarly, in this case Corbitt contends that because the Lopezes received an insurance payment on their claim for the stolen truck, the Lopezes sustained no "actual loss" and therefore had no "pecuniary damages" as a result of Corbitt's criminal activity. Corbitt's argument parallels the defendant's "untenable" argument in Twitchell, id. 832 P.2d at 869, and we are equally unpersuaded. First, as in Twitchell, Corbitt admitted in his plea affidavit the elements necessary to prove a conversion claim. See-ond, notwithstanding any subsequent insurance payment on behalf of the Lopezes,³ the fact remains that by Corbitt's admitted illegal possession of the stolen truck, Corbitt inflicted on the Lopezes "special damages ... includ{ing] the money equivalent of property taken ... and [other] losses," "which [the Lopezes] could recover against [Corbitt] in a civil action" for conversion. Utah Code Ann. § 77-382-102(6) (Supp.2002). Hence, a plain reading of the restitution statute reveals that the Lopezes did suffer "pecuniary damages" as contemplated by the restitution statute. See id. Furthermore, by admitting his guilt on the charge of possessing a stolen vehicle, Corbitt "firmly established" his responsibility for the pecuniary damages resulting from his criminal conduct, State v. Mast, 2001 UT App 402, ¶ 13, 40 P.3d 1148 (quoting State v. Watson, 1999 UT App 273, ¶ 5, 987 P.2d 1289 (per curiam)), and he cannot now be heard to argue otherwise on appeal. Accordingly, we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion or exceed its authority in determining the Lopezes sustained pecuniary damages caused by Cor-bitt's criminal activity for purposes of the restitution statute.⁴

II. Amount of Restitution

118 Second, Corbitt argues the trial court erred in determining the monetary sum required for complete restitution. See Utah Code Ann. § 77-382-802(2)(a) (Supp.2002) (defining complete restitution as the "restitution necessary to compensate a victim for all losses caused by the defendant").⁵

114 The restitution statute provides: "When a defendant is convicted of criminal activity that has resulted in pecuniary damages, in addition to any other sentence it may impose, the court shall order that the defendant make restitution to victims of crime...." Id. § 77-882-302(1) (emphasis added). To determine "the monetary sum and other conditions for complete restitution" the trial court must consider, inter alia, "the cost of the damage or loss" to the victim as a result of the offense. Id. § 77-382a-302(5)(b). We also note that the well-settled remedial purpose of our restitution statute is "to compensate victims for the harm caused by a defendant and ... to spare victims the time, expense, and emotional difficulties of separate civil litigation to recover their damages from the defendant." Monson v. Carver, 928 P.2d 1017, 1027 (Utah 1996). Furthermore, as stated above, the measure of damages is flexible, allowing trial courts to fashion an equitable award to the victim. See Jenkins v. Equipment Cir., Inc., 869 P.2d 1000, 1004 (Utah Ct.App.1994).

1 15 Corbitt argues the trial court erred in using the "purchase price" of the truck instead of the insurance company's valuation to determine the monetary amount required for complete restitution of the Lopezes' pecuniary damages. Stated another way, Corbitt contends he "is not responsible for the difference between the amount the Lopezes' paid for the [truck] and its actual value [as determined by the insurance company]." The appropriate measure of the loss or damage to a victim is fact-sengitive and will vary based on the facts of a particular case. In some cases, a purchase price may be appropriate to a determination of loss, in other cases it may not be appropriate. We think it unwise to adopt a black-letter rule that either always requires or never permits the use of purchase price or insurance settlement amount as valuation methods under the restitution statute. Here, the date of purchase and the date the car was stolen are only about two weeks apart; hence the use of purchase price in this case seems highly appropriate.

£16 Furthermore, Utah law supports the use of purchase price as a property valuation method under the restitution statute. In State v. McBride, 940 P.2d 539 (Utah Ct.App.1997), we faced a factual scenario somewhat similar to the one we face in this appeal.⁶ Like the Lopezes in this case, the car-buyer in McBride financed the purchase of a vehicle by making a down payment and then signing a note for the balance of the purchase price. See id. at 540. The victimized seller (the victim) retained the car's title to secure the note. See id. Thereafter, the vehicle was stolen. See id. Some weeks later, police stopped the defendant as he was driving the stolen vehicle and impounded the vehicle. See id. However, due to a transcribing error, neither the car-buyer nor the victim were notified by police that the vehicle had been recovered. See id. at 541. Unable to locate an owner, the impound lot finally sold the car. See id. Meanwhile, the car-buyer defaulted on the loan and the victim was unable to recover the vehicle. See id. The defendant was charged with receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and later pleaded guilty to unlawful control over a vehicle. See id. After a restitution hearing, the trial court ordered the defendant to pay the remaining balance of the loan as restitution, see id., just as did the trial court in this case. On appeal, we noted the defendant in McBride was Hable to the victim in a civil action for conversion for pecuniary damages equaling the remaining loan amount on the vehicle. See id. at 543 (citing Allred v. Hinkley, 8 Utah 2d 73, 328 P.2d 726, 728 (1958)). We held that were it not for the defendant's criminal act, the victim's "loss would not have occurred." Id. at 544. Here, the truck was stolen only two weeks after it was purchased. The trial court was persuaded that the purchase price of the truck was a more accurate reflection of the fair market value than the insurance company's valuation given the short period of time between the purchase and the theft. Based on the deference we must accord the trial court, we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the restitution ordered in this case.⁷

CONCLUSION

T 17 The trial court did not abuse its discretion or exceed its legal authority in determining the Lopezes suffered pecuniary damages resulting from Corbitt's admitted criminal conduct. Further, the trial court did not abuse its discretion or exceed its legal authority in ordering the amount of restitution in this case. Accordingly, we affirm the order of restitution.

T18 I CONCUR: PAMELA T. GREENWOOD, Judge.

1 . In 2002, the Utah Legislature amended and renumbered Utah Code Annotated section 76-3-201 (1999). These changes do not affect the substance of our analysis. Therefore, for convenience we cite to the current version of the statutes.

2 . Corbitt does not assert that the Lopezes' losses are general damages of the type excluded from the restitution statute's definition of "pecuniary damages." See Utah Code Ann. § 77-38a-102(6) (Supp.2002).

3 . By statute, the trial court is obligated to factor the insurance payment into the determination of the amount of court-ordered restitution that will be required of a defendant. See Utah Code Ann. § 77-382-302(5)(c) (Supp.2002) ("In determining the monetary sum ... for court-ordered restitution, the court shall consider ... circumstances which the court determines may make restitution inappropriate."). However, evidence of insurance coverage should be included neither in the "pecuniary damages" determination, nor in the "complete restitution" determination because in making these deterininations trial courts only look to whether or not the victim suffered damages as a result of the defendant's criminal conduct and, if so, how much. Id. §§ 77-38a-102(6), -302(2)(a), and -302(5)(c).

4 . Corbitt argues the trial court erred in requiring him to pay restitution for the service contract the Lopezes purchased with the truck, the cost of which was incorporated into the loan the Lo-pezes obtained to finance the purchase, because loss of the service contract "is not a loss attributable to ... Corbitt's crime." However, Corbitt cites no applicable authority that would indicate the cost of the service contract was not a pecuniary loss under the restitution statute. See Utah Code Ann. § 77-38a-102(6). Furthermore, the trial court determined that the remaining loan balance was the measure of the monetary amount required for complete restitution, not the costs of individual components of the Lopezes' purchase. For the reasons we articulate below, we refuse to alter the trial court's restitution order.

5 . We note that the trial court properly considered Corbitt's testimony regarding his financial resources, his ability to pay restitution, and other factors required by the restitution statute, see id. § 77-38a-302(5), before determining the amount of court-ordered restitution required of Corbitt.

6 . The case differs from ours in that the defendant in McBride was challenging an order of restitution on the basis that intervening police negligence cut off any liability the defendant may have otherwise had to the victim. See State v. McBride, 940 P.2d 539, 542-45 (Utah Ct.App.1997). Also, the victim in McBride was the seller who also financed the car-buyer's purchase. See id. at 540. However, because of the car-buyer's default, the seller was left with an unpaid loan and was thereby victimized in the same way the Lopezes were victimized in this case. See id. at 541.

7 . The State contends the trial court "forgot to take into account the trade-in allowance and down payment" and thereby "incorrectly calculated" the amount of restitution Corbitt should pay. The State urges us to either modify the order of restitution to remedy this "clerical mistake," or remand with instructions that the trial court "recalculate the restitution amount." We decline. The record indicates the trial court had before it evidence of the trade-in allowance and down payment, as well as evidence of the remaining balance on the Lopezes' loan. In light of the trial court's wide discretion in sentencing, the absence of any evidence showing the trial court miscalculated the amount of restitution, and the trial court's clear intentions as evidenced by the written findings of facts and conclusions of law, we leave undisturbed the amount of restitution provided in the restitution order.