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UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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)

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

FILED 4-28-2020
STATE v. DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS

Decision of the Court

2

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).
STATE v. DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS

Decision of the Court

3

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.
STATE v. DIDN’T DO IT BAIL BONDS

Decision of the Court

4

¶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.