State v. MacNeill

2012 UT App 263, 286 P.3d 1278, 717 Utah Adv. Rep. 45, 2012 WL 4121156, 2012 Utah App. LEXIS 271
CourtCourt of Appeals of Utah
DecidedSeptember 20, 2012
Docket20090863-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2012 UT App 263 (State v. MacNeill) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. MacNeill, 2012 UT App 263, 286 P.3d 1278, 717 Utah Adv. Rep. 45, 2012 WL 4121156, 2012 Utah App. LEXIS 271 (Utah Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION

ORME, Judge:

« 1 Defendant Martin MacNeill appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to quash bindover. Defendant argues that Rule 25 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure bars refiling the charges against him eight months after they were initially dismissed. Defendant also contends that the refiling violated his due process rights and his right to a speedy trial. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

T2 The State charged Defendant with forcible sexual abuse, pursuant to Utah Code section 76-5-404, and witness tampering, pursuant to Utah Code section 76-8-508. *1281 See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-404 (Supp.2012); id. § 76-8-508 (2008). 1 After conducting a preliminary hearing and finding probable cause for the charged offenses, Judge Clau dia Laycock, acting as a magistrate, bound Defendant over to district court for trial. The case was assigned to Judge Laycock, who scheduled a four-day jury trial. Two weeks before trial, however, the State moved to dismiss the charges without prejudice. It did not provide any explanation for its request. Defense counsel did not oppose the motion, and neither the court nor defense eounsel sought an explanation for the State's requested dismissal. The court granted the motion without specifying whether the dismissal was with or without prejudice, stating only that the case was dismissed "upon good cause appearing."

T3 Four months after the eriminal charges were dismissed, the Utah State Bar's Office of Professional Conduct (OPC) undertook an investigation of Defendant, a lawyer, stemming from accusations of misconduct related to the dismissed criminal charges. In the course of its investigation, OPC contacted the State seeking information regarding the charges. OPC then wrote a letter explaining that it was dismissing the Bar complaints against Defendant because the State had dismissed the criminal charges against him. The letter also characterized the dismissal as being due to the State "not believ[ing] that they had a good faith basis to proceed with this case."

T4 Eight months after the dismissal, the State refiled the same charges against Defendant. Defendant unsuccessfully moved to have the charges dismissed on the basis that refiling them was a violation of his rights to due process and a speedy trial. The parties stipulated that bindover on the refiled charges could proceed based on the transcript of the original preliminary hearing. The case was then set to be tried before Judge Samuel D. McVey. Defendant sought, unsuccessfully, to have the case moved back to Judge Laycock's docket. Defendant then filed a motion to quash the bindover, reargu-ing his due process and speedy trial claims. See Utah R.Crim. P. 25. Judge McVey denied Defendant's motion to quash. Finally, Defendant petitioned this court for permission to appeal the interlocutory order denying the motion to quash, and we granted the petition.

ISSUES AND STANDARDS OF REVIEW

15 On appeal, Defendant argues that Rule 25 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure bars the State from refiling the charges against him because Rule 25 does not expressly authorize refiling in cases like this. Defendant also argues that the court failed to comply with Rule 25 by not listing a specific reason for dismissing the charges. Accordingly, we must interpret Rule 25 to determine under what cireumstances it bars the State from refiling charges that were dismissed pursuant to the rule. See Utah R.Crim. P. 25(a). "The proper interpretation of a rule of procedure is a question of law, and we review the trial court's decision for correctness." Ostler v. Buhler, 1999 UT 99, ¶ 5, 989 P.2d 1073.

16 Next, Defendant argues that, wholly apart from the Rule 25 violations he alleges, the State violated his due process rights when it dismissed the case, only to refile again eight months later. Specifically, Defendant cites the requirements of State v. Brickey, 714 P.2d 644, 647-48 (Utah 1986), and argues that the State was required to follow the refiling mandates outlined there but failed to do so. "Interpretation of case law presents a question of law which is reviewed for correctness." State v. Atencio, 2004 UT App 93, ¶ 7, 89 P.3d 191 (citing State v. Morgan, 2001 UT 87, ¶ 1, 34 P.3d 767).

17 Finally, Defendant argues that his right to a speedy trial has been violated. "Whether a defendant's right to a speedy trial has been violated presents a question of law, which we review for correctness." State v. Steele, 2010 UT App 185, ¶ 14, 236 P.3d 161.

*1282 ANALYSIS

I. Rule 25 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure Did Not Require that the Charges Be Dismissed with Prejudice.

1 8 Defendant contends that Rule 25 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure barred the State from refiling the charges against him. Rule 25 provides:

(a) In its discretion, for substantial cause and in furtherance of justice, the court may, either on its own initiative or upon application of either party, order an information or indictment dismissed.
(b) The court shall dismiss the information or indictment when:
(1) There is unreasonable or unconstitutional delay in bringing defendant to trial;
(2) The allegations of the information or indictment, together with any bill of particulars furnished in support thereof, do not constitute the offense intended to be charged in the pleading so filed;
(3) It appears that there was a substantial and prejudicial defect in the impaneling or in the proceedings relating to the grand jury;
(4) The court is without jurisdiction; or
(5) The prosecution is barred by the statute of limitations.
(c) The reasons for any such dismissal shall be set forth in an order and entered in the minutes.
(d) If the dismissal is based upon the grounds that there was unreasonable delay, or the court is without jurisdiction, or the offense was not properly alleged in the information or indictment, or there was a defect in the impaneling or of the proceedings relating to the grand jury, further prosecution for the offense shall not be barred and the court may make such orders with respect to the custody of the defendant pending the filing of new charges as the interest of justice may require. Otherwise the defendant shall be discharged and bail exonerated.
An order of dismissal based upon unconstitutional delay in bringing the defendant to trial or based upon the statute of limitations, shall be a bar to any other prosecution for the offense charged.

Utah R.Crim. P. 25(a)-(d) (emphasis added). Defendant argues that when a case is dismissed under Rule 25 without a trial, the case may not be refiled unless it meets one of the exceptions enumerated in part (d) of the rule. See id. R. 25(d).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Labrum
2025 UT 12 (Utah Supreme Court, 2025)
State v. MacNeill
2016 UT App 177 (Court of Appeals of Utah, 2016)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2012 UT App 263, 286 P.3d 1278, 717 Utah Adv. Rep. 45, 2012 WL 4121156, 2012 Utah App. LEXIS 271, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-macneill-utahctapp-2012.