State v. Didn't Do It Bail Bonds

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Plaintiff/Appellee,

v.

DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS, Intervenor/Appellant.
Nos. 1 CA-CV 19-0517, 1 CA-CV 19-0554,
1 CA-CV 19-0562, 1 CA-CV 19-0576
(Consolidated)
FILED 4-28-2020

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
Nos. CR2018-102021-002, CR2015-002301-001,
CR2018-001571-001, CR2015-111924-001

The Honorable Thomas A. Kaipio, Judge Pro Tempore

AFFIRMED

COUNSEL

Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix
By Kimberly Felcyn
Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee

DuMond Law PLLC, Phoenix
By Samantha K. DuMond
Counsel for Intervenor/Appellant
 STATE v. DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS
Decision of the Court

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge D. Steven Williams delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Michael J. Brown and Judge Kenton D. Jones joined.

W I L L I A M S, Judge:

¶1 Didn’t Do It Bail Bonds (“DDI”) appeals from the superior
court’s forfeiture of four appearance bonds. For the following reasons, we
affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 In May 2018, DDI posted bond on behalf of Cristian Alejandro
Leyva-Sanchez (“Defendant”) in four cases: CR2018-102021-002 ($25,000),
CR2015-002304-001 ($2,500), CR2018-001571-001 ($5,000), and CR2015-
111924-001 ($1,000). After posting bond, DDI took measures to ensure
Defendant’s compliance with court-ordered release conditions, including
requiring regular check-ins and, for a time, placing an electronic tracking
bracelet on Defendant.

¶3 Defendant failed to appear for trial on March 28, 2019. A
warrant was issued for Defendant’s arrest and a jury trial was held in
absentia in CR2018-102021-002. Defendant was convicted of several felonies.

¶4 DDI took actions to locate Defendant, ultimately providing
Phoenix police with information and assistance leading to Defendant’s
arrest several weeks later.

¶5 At the bond forfeiture hearing, Defendant gave no
explanation for his failure to appear at trial. DDI co-owner Arturo Rosales,
Jr. testified about steps DDI took to locate and help apprehend Defendant,
including contacting Defendant’s family, sending agents to locate him, and
leading Phoenix police to his location to effectuate his arrest.

¶6 The superior court found no reasonable cause justifying
Defendant’s failure to appear at trial and no mitigation to justify reduction
or exoneration of the bonds. The court ordered all four bonds forfeited in
full. DDI timely appealed, and we have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-
2101(A)(1).

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 STATE v. DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS
Decision of the Court

DISCUSSION

¶7 Appellant argues the court erred by forfeiting all four
appearance bonds. We review the record “in the light most favorable to
support the judgment of the trial court.” State v. Old W. Bonding Co., 203
Ariz. 468, 471, ¶ 9 (App. 2002) (quoting State v. Garcia Bail Bonds, 201 Ariz.
203, 205, ¶ 5 (App. 2001)). We review bond forfeiture orders for an abuse of
discretion. Id.

¶8 The primary purpose of bail is to “[a]ssur[e] the appearance
of the accused.” Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 22(B)(1); see also Fragoso v. Fell, 210 Ariz.
427, 434, ¶ 21 (App. 2005) (“[T]he primary, if not paramount, purpose of
bail under the Arizona Constitution is to guarantee a defendant’s
appearance in court while protecting victims, witnesses, and the public . . .
.”). When a defendant violates a condition of an appearance bond, the trial
court has discretion to forfeit “all or part of the bond,” unless the violation
is “excused.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 7.6(c)(3). “In determining whether a
defendant’s absence is excusable, a court reviews only the defendant’s
actions.” State v. Int’l Fid. Ins. Co., 238 Ariz. 22, 25, ¶ 8 (App. 2015). The party
posting bond bears the burden of establishing excusable absence by a
preponderance of the evidence. State v. Bail Bonds USA, 223 Ariz. 394, 397,
¶ 11 (2010).

¶9 If a court finds the defendant’s absence was not excusable, it
is authorized to forfeit all or part of the bond upon consideration of the
factors set forth in Old West. Int’l Fid., 238 Ariz. at 25, ¶ 9. The factors
include, but are not limited to:

(1) whether the defendant’s failure to appear due to
incarceration arose from a crime committed before or after
being released on bond; (2) the willfulness of the defendant’s
violation of the appearance bond; (3) the surety’s effort and
expense in locating and apprehending the defendant; (4) the
costs, inconvenience, and prejudice suffered by the state as a
result of the violation; (5) any intangible costs; (6) the public’s
interest in ensuring a defendant’s appearance; and (7) any
other mitigating or aggravating factors.

Old W., 203 Ariz. at 475, ¶ 26. “On appeal, we presume the trial court
exercised its discretion by considering all the relevant factors to determine
whether to forfeit the entire bond amount or only a portion thereof,” and
“we do not re-weigh those factors to determine whether we would reach
the same decision as the trial court.” Int’l Fid., 238 Ariz. at 26-27, ¶ 11.

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 STATE v. DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS
Decision of the Court

¶10 Here, the court concluded DDI failed to provide reasonable
cause or explanation for Defendant’s failure to appear. The record supports
the court’s finding. Indeed, in making its findings, the court explained that
“[Defendant] didn’t really provide the Court with any explanation as to
why he failed to appear, or any good reason or explanation. In fact, I didn’t
hear any reason. I don’t think he really wanted to address the issue.” Upon
finding Defendant’s absence inexcusable, the court had authority to forfeit
the entire bond amount, subject to consideration of the Old West mitigating
factors. See Int’l Fid., 238 Ariz. at 25, ¶ 9.

¶11 The court then considered and weighed the Old West factors
and found “insufficient evidence in mitigation or hardship.” Although DDI
asserts “no factor carries more weight than the effort and expense expended
by the surety to locate and apprehend the defendant,” Old West does not
indicate this factor outweighs the rest. See Old W., 203 Ariz. at 475, ¶ 26.
And although DDI accurately points to its efforts in searching for and
locating Defendant, the court expressly acknowledged, considered, and
weighed these efforts along with all other factors—most significantly the
willfulness of Defendant’s actions in failing to appear at trial. The court’s
increased emphasis on this factor was proper considering failure to appear
relates to the “primary purpose” of appearance bonds. See Int’l Fid., 238
Ariz. at 25, ¶ 8.

¶12 The record supports the court’s exercise of discretion in
weighing the factors and declining to exonerate the bonds. Although
another judicial officer, in his or her discretion, could have reached a
different result, we will not reweigh the factors nor second-guess the court’s
conclusion. See id., at 26-27, ¶ 11. We therefore hold the court did not abuse
its discretion in forfeiting the bonds in full.

CONCLUSION

¶13 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
FILED: AA

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