State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071 (Utah 1989). · Go Syfert
State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071 (Utah 1989). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“a person is guilty of burglary if he or she (1) enters or remains unlawfully in a building (2) with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault.”
40 citation events (13 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: State v. Florez (utahctapp, 2020-05-14)
Treatment trajectory · 1989 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1989 2007 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 22 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) State v. Florez (4×) also: Cited "see", Cited "see, e.g."
Utah Ct. App. · 2020 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
a person is guilty of burglary if he or she (1) enters or remains unlawfully in a building (2) with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Ojeda
Utah Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
See, eg., State v. Davis, 2013 UT App 228 , TT 100, 109, 311 P.3d 538 (affirming a conviction because the defendant had not demonstrated any . resulting prejudice, even assuming the response to a jury's question had been improper); State v. Ingleby, 2004 UT App 447 , TMi1, 15, 104 P.3d 657 (affirming a conviction where the trial court's response to a jury's question, even if improper, was harmless because there was not "'a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant'") (quoting State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989)); Sta…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Hards
Utah Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
We note that whether Hards actually punched L.H. is different from the question before the jury-whether Hards entered L.H.'s room with the intent to assault LH. 1 110 "It is well established that intent can be proven by cireumstantial evidence." State v. James, 819 P.2d 781, 789 (Utah 1991). "[The facts of a particular case may support an inference of intent to commit burglary." State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1072 (Utah 1989); see also, e.g., State v. Robertson, 2005 UT App 419, ¶ 16 , 122 P.3d 895 (holding that, for purposes of a burglary conviction, a jury could reasonably infer intent to…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Toki (2×)
Utah Ct. App. · 2011 · confidence medium
Defendant contends that the cumulative effect of these errors requires a new trial. ¶ 18 When a trial court errs by inadvertently mischaracterizing the charges pending against a defendant, we will reverse a defendant's conviction only if the error is "substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its *486 absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant." State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Dominguez
Utah · 2011 · confidence medium
We concluded that the magistrate's error therefore "constituted nothing more than the failure to perform a ministerial act which did not affect the validity of the search warrant and the search conducted thereunder." Id. at 1262 . ¶ 22 Elsewhere, we have construed Rule 30(a) to foreclose reversal of a conviction "unless the error is substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant." State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989) (emphases added).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Ingleby
Utah Ct. App. · 2004 · confidence medium
However, assuming that the trial court's comment was improvidently made, any error that might be found is harmless. 3 " 'Any error, defect, irregularity or variance which does not affect the substantial rights of a party shall be disregarded." " State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989) (quoting Utah Rule of Criminal Procedure 30(a)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Burns
Utah · 2000 · confidence medium
However, we will not reverse a convietion "'unless the error is substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant'" State v. Young, 853 P.2d 327, 361 (Utah 1993) (quoting State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Layton City v. Longcrier
Utah Ct. App. · 1997 · confidence medium
An error that does not implicate a constitutional right is “ ‘prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant.’ ” State v. Young, 853 P.2d 327, 361 (Utah 1993) (quoting State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Doporto (2×)
Utah · 1997 · confidence medium
A conviction will not be reversed even if there is error unless the error is “prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant.” State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Snyder
Utah Ct. App. · 1997 · confidence medium
Thus, the trial court’s error in de *127 clining to give the requested cautionary instruction to the jury was “prejudicial in the sense that there was a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant.” State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Strausberg
Utah Ct. App. · 1995 · confidence medium
“Only those errors that are harmful or prejudicial to the outcome of a trial or penalty phase provide grounds for granting a new hearing or overturning a conviction.” State v. Young, 853 P.2d 327, 361 (Utah 1993) (citing State v. Dibello, 780 P.2d 1221, 1230 (Utah 1989)). “‘[T]he standard for dealing with non-constitutional error is that [the court] will not reverse a conviction unless the error is substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant.’ ” Id. (quoting State …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Young (2×)
Utah · 1993 · confidence medium
Torcia, Wharton's Criminal Procedure ง 609 & n. 2 (12th ed. 1976). [181] See, e.g., State v. Dibello, 780 P.2d 1221, 1230 (Utah 1989). [182] State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989); State v. Lafferty, 749 P.2d 1239, 1255 (Utah 1988) (death penalty case). [183] See ง XV(B), supra. [184] Utah Code Ann. ง 76-3-207(2). [185] Utah R.Crim.P. 1(b). [186] Defendant's proffered instruction reads: In the guilt phase of this case, you were instructed that you should not base your verdict on various irrelevant matters, including sympathy.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Petersen
Utah · 1991 · confidence medium
See State v. Williams, 773 P.2d 1368, 1374 (Utah 1989); State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1074 (Utah 1989); State v. Stilling, 770 P.2d 137, 144-45 (Utah 1989) (all holding that the habitual criminal statute does not create a separate crime but operates as an enhancing statute); see abo Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-203 (2) (Supp.1989) (second degree murder is a first degree felony); Utah Code Ann. § 76-4-102 (Supp.1989) (attempted second degree murder is a second degree felony); Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 (2) (Supp.1989) (second degree felony is punishable by an indeterminate period of not less than…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Rocco (2×) also: Cited "see"
Utah · 1990 · confidence medium
In view of the untimeliness of defense counsel’s later objection and the fact that we are constrained by *1118 rule 30(a) of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure from reversing a conviction because of an error which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties, we do not find that there are sufficient grounds here for reversing the verdict. “[W]e will not reverse a conviction unless the error is substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant.” State v. Johnson, 771…
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Cude
Utah · 1989 · confidence medium
State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989); State v. Tillman, 750 P.2d 546, 555 (Utah 1987). 14 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Moore (2×)
Utah · 1989 · confidence medium
Cf. State v. Williams, 773 P.2d 1368, 1374 (Utah 1989); State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1074 (Utah 1989); State v. Stilling, 770 P.2d 137, 145 (Utah 1989) (the sentence for being a habitual criminal should be merged with the sentence of the underlying substantive offense to create one enhanced sentence); State v. Bailey, 712 P.2d 281, 286 (Utah 1986); State v. Carter, 578 P.2d 1275, 1277 (Utah 1978).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Mitchell (2×)
Utah · 1989 · confidence medium
State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989). . 779 P.2d 646, 655-656 (Utah 1989). .
examined Cited as authority (rule) State v. Johnson (4×)
Utah · 1989 · confidence medium
Id. at 345 (citation omitted), quoted in State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1072 (Utah 1989). .
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Pacheco
Utah Ct. App. · 1989 · confidence medium
See Utah R.Crim.P. 30(a); State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1072-73 (Utah 1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Bergwerff
Utah Ct. App. · 1989 · confidence medium
See Utah R.Crim.P. 30(a) (codified at Utah Code Ann. § 77-35-30 (1982)); State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073-74 (Utah 1989); State v. Hansen, 734 P.2d 421, 428 (Utah 1986).
discussed Cited "see" State in Interest of WBJ (2×)
Utah Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See Young, 853 P.2d at 361 (holding "`the standard for dealing with non-constitutional error is that [the court] will not reverse a conviction unless the error is substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant'") (quoting State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989)).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State v. Davis (2×)
Utah Ct. App. · 2013 · signal: see also · confidence medium
P. 30(a); see also State v. Johnson, 771 P.2d 1071, 1073 (Utah 1989) (holding that a trial court’s erroneous mention of a non‐existent second charged offense to a jury was harmless error because there was no indication that the jury 20110204‐CA 35 2013 UT App 228 State v. Davis considered it); State v. Ingleby, 2004 UT App 447, ¶ 13 , 104 P.3d 657 (holding that a trial court’s description of an issue raised by jury question as “peripheral” was harmless in light of a jury instruction to “disregard any statement that the court may have made that could be construed as favoring one …
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
STATE of Utah, Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
Alfred William JOHNSON, Defendant and Appellant
880066.
Utah Supreme Court.
Mar 31, 1989.
771 P.2d 1071
R. Paul Van Dam and Charlene Barlow, Salt Lake City, for plaintiff and appellee., Khris Harrold and Joan C. Watt, Salt Lake City, for defendant and appellant.
Hall, Howe, Durham, Zimmerman, Stewart.
Cited by 32 opinions  |  Published
HALL, Chief Justice:

Defendant Alfred William Johnson was convicted of second degree burglary in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-202 (1978) and of being a habitual criminal in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-1001 (1978). The trial court sentenced defendant to a term of one to fifteen years for the burglary conviction and a consecutive sentence of five years to life for the habitual criminal conviction. Defendant appeals the convic[*1072] tions and sentences. We affirm the convictions but vacate the sentences and remand for resentencing.

When John and Eleanor Sargent left their apartment for lunch, Mrs. Sargent locked the door and Mr. Sargent pulled it shut. Later, Mr. Sargent returned home and found his apartment door ajar and defendant standing in the living room near the bedroom entrance. Mr. Sargent challenged defendant, who responded that he was looking for someone else, that he had made a mistake and was in the wrong place, and that he had not taken anything. Defendant invited Mr. Sargent to search the apartment to ensure that nothing was missing. He was conciliatory and indicated that he did not want to leave until the incident was resolved. Mr. Sargent inspected his home and found nothing amiss but did notice that his wife’s jewelry box was open.

The box’s contents were not valuable and nothing had been taken from it. Mrs. Sargent testified, however, that the box probably had not been opened for a year and it was covered with a thick coat of dust. She discovered fingermarks in the dust, but because of the type of surface on the box, police could lift no discernible prints.

After his inspection, Mr. Sargent returned to the living room. There defendant pulled his front pockets partially out to show that he had taken nothing, but Mr. Sargent did not observe all the contents. Defendant asked if he could leave, and Mr. Sargent did not object. Upon reflection, however, Mr. Sargent concluded that he had interrupted a burglary in progress. He contacted the police, who eventually arrested defendant.

I

A person is guilty of burglary if he or she (1) enters or remains unlawfully in a building (2) with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault. [1] Defendant claims that the trial court erred when it refused to grant his motion to dismiss after the State failed to prove intent, an essential element of the crime of burglary. We disagree with defendant’s assumption that the State failed to prove intent. The State produced enough evidence at trial from which a reasonable jury could infer that defendant had the requisite intent to commit burglary.

The standard of review for reversing a jury conviction is narrow:

“[W]e review the evidence and all inferences which may reasonably be drawn from it in the light most favorable to the verdict of the jury. We reverse a jury conviction for insufficient evidence only when the evidence, so viewed, is sufficiently inconclusive or inherently improbable that reasonable minds must have entertained a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime of which he was convicted.” State v. Petree, Utah, 659 P.2d 443, 444 (1988); accord State v. McCardell, Utah, 652 P.2d 942, 945 (1982). In reviewing the conviction, we do not substitute our judgment for that of the jury. “It is the exclusive function of the jury to weigh the evidence and to determine the credibility of the witnesses....” State v. Lamm, Utah, 606 P.2d 229, 231 (1980); accord State v. Linden, Utah, 657 P.2d 1364, 1366 (1983). So long as there is some evidence, including reasonable inferences, from which findings of all the requisite elements of the crime can reasonably be made, our inquiry stops. [2]

Intent may be difficult to prove but can be inferred. [3] In State v. Brooks, [4] we held that the facts of a particular case may support an inference of intent to commit burglary. We stated: “The act of entering[*1073] alone does not give rise to an inference that the actor entered with the requisite intent to constitute burglary. The intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault must be proved, or circumstances shown from which the intent may reasonably be inferred.” [5] In this case, sufficient facts were presented at trial from which defendant’s intent to commit burglary may reasonably be inferred.

As noted at trial, the apartment door was locked when the Sargents left but was open when Mr. Sargent returned. The door was not wide open, but only ajar, as if to conceal the fact that someone was inside. Defendant was not discovered near the front door where a stranger might be expected to stay, but near the bedroom entrance. The jury may have found defendant’s first words, that he had not taken anything, a curious statement for an innocent intruder to make. The facts that the dust on Mrs. Sargent’s jewelry box was disturbed and that the lid was open and that the Sargents had neither disturbed the dust nor opened the lid could have led jurors to reasonably presume that defendant opened the box with the intent to commit a theft. Finally, defendant’s claim that he was looking for a friend and yet his inability to provide police with a nearby address, or any address, where his friend resided could have made his story suspect in the jury’s eyes. From this evidence a reasonable jury could infer that defendant had the intent necessary to convict him of burglary.

II

While giving the jury a preliminary explanation of the case, the court asked counsel, “This case is entitled State of Utah, plaintiff, vs. Alfred William Johnson, Jr., defendant. Am I correct? That the trial as to both counts, am I not?” The prosecution asked to approach the bench, after which the court said, “There is one count entitled burglary, a second degree felony....” Defendant moved for mistrial and argues on appeal that the court erred in refusing to grant his motion since the statement may have caused the jury to speculate “as to why they didn’t hear anything about the second count and what that second count would be for.” We are not persuaded. Assuming arguendo that the court’s inadvertent statement was error, it was harmless error that did not entitle defendant to a new trial as it did not affect his substantial rights.

Rule 30(a) of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure states: “Any error, defect, irregularity or variance which does not affect the substantial rights of a party shall be disregarded.” This Court’s standard for dealing with nonconstitutional error is that we will not reverse a conviction unless the error is substantial and prejudicial in the sense that there is a reasonable likelihood that in its absence there would have been a more favorable result for the defendant. [6] Considering all of the circumstances in this case, there is no reasonable likelihood the result would have been different had the court not made the inadvertent statement.

First, there is no showing in the record that the jury was influenced by the statement. The jury, during its deliberations, asked two questions, neither of which concerned a second charge. Second, the court did not reveal the nature of the charge, and the jury had little basis for speculation as to what the second charge might involve. The nature of the court’s inadvertent statement did not even make it clear that a second charge had been filed. Third, while defendant declined the court’s offer of a special cautionary instruction, the jury was generally instructed that it was to consider only the evidence introduced at trial and that it was not, among other things, to be governed by conjecture. Under these circumstances, the court’s inadvertent statement did not entitle defendant to a new trial.

III

Defendant argues that he was improperly sentenced to a separate and con[*1074] secutive term of five years to life for being a habitual criminal in violation of Utah statute [7] and double jeopardy provisions of the federal and Utah constitutions. [8] We agree.

Utah’s habitual criminal statute does not create a new crime, but rather enhances punishment for the latest substantive offense. [9] As we recently noted in State v. Stilling, “Since no crime exists, there can be no sentence. Assigning a separate sentence for recidivism does more than enhance punishment for the latest crime, it penalizes an individual for past convictions.” [10] In Stilling, we held that the sentence for being a habitual criminal should be merged with the sentence for the underlying substantive offense to create one enhanced sentence. [11] That result is also appropriate in this case. Defendant should receive one enhanced sentence of five years to life for second degree burglary and for being a habitual criminal.

We vacate the sentences and remand to the trial court for resentencing consistent with this opinion.

HOWE, ASSOCIATE C.J., and DURHAM and ZIMMERMAN, JJ., concur. STEWART, Justice, concurs in the result.
2

. State v. Booker, 709 P.2d 342, 345 (Utah 1985) (citation omitted); State v. Simmons, 759 P.2d 1152, 1158 (Utah 1988) (Hall, C.J., concurring and dissenting).

3

. Id.; State v. Cooley, 603 P.2d 800, 802 (Utah 1979) ("[I]ntent[ ] need not be proved by direct evidence, and, of course, is always subject to denial by an accused. The factfinder, however, is entitled to draw all reasonable inferences from the facts and from the actions of the defendant.”).

4

. 631 P.2d 878 (Utah 1981).

5

. Id. at 881 (footnote omitted).

6

. See State v. Bishop, 753 P.2d 439, 477 (Utah 1988); State v. Banner, 717 P.2d 1325, 1335 (Utah 1986).

8

. U.S. Const. amends. V, XIV; Utah Const, art. I, § 12.

9

. See State v. Stilling, 770 P.2d 137 (Utah 1989).

11

. Id.; see also State v. Nielson, 25 Utah 2d 11, 12-13, 474 P.2d 725, 726 (1970) (trial court instructed to merge habitual criminal sentence of not less than fifteen years with arson sentence of one to ten years to create one enhanced sentence of not less than fifteen years).