Opinion ID: 867183
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the plain language of utah code section

Text: 76-5-404.1(4)(h) PRESENTS THREE POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS THAT AFFECT ITS APPLICATION TO MR. WATKINS ¶16 Utah Code section 76-5-404.1 articulates the elements of sexual abuse of a child. Under subsection (4)(h), the crime of sexual abuse of a child is aggravated if “the offense was committed by a person who occupied a position of special trust in relation to the victim.” UTAH CODE § 76-5-404.1(4)(h) (emphasis added). Subsection (4)(h) states that a “position of special trust” means that position occupied by a person in a position of authority, who, by reason of that position is able to exercise undue influence over the victim, and includes, but is not limited to, a youth leader or recreational leader who is an adult, adult athletic manager, adult coach, teacher, counselor, religious leader, doctor, employer, foster parent, baby-sitter, adult scout leader, natural parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult cohabitant of a parent. 4 Cite as: 2013 UT 28 Opinion of the Court Id. (emphasis added). ¶17 Mr. Watkins argues that the court of appeals erred when it held that he occupied a “position of special trust” based solely on the fact that he occupied the enumerated position of “adult cohabitant of a parent of the victim.” Specifically, Mr. Watkins argues that the State was required to show both that he occupied a “position of authority” over H.C. and, “by reason of that position [wa]s able to exercise undue influence over [her].” The State responds that proof that a person occupies one of the statute’s twenty listed positions in relation to a child, including the position of “adult cohabitant of a parent,” is, as a matter of law, proof that he stands in a position of authority, by which means he has the capacity to exercise undue influence over the child. ¶18 “When interpreting statutes, our primary goal is to evince the true intent and purpose of the Legislature.” State v. Martinez, 2002 UT 80, ¶ 8, 52 P.3d 1276 (internal quotation marks omitted). In doing so, “[w]e first interpret the statute according to its plain language.” Wilcox v. CSX Corp., 2003 UT 21, ¶ 8, 70 P.3d 85. Here, the statute reveals three possibilities as to the legal significance of a finding that a defendant occupied the position of an “adult cohabitant of a parent.” Specifically, the statute raises a question of whether the enumerated positions are “position[s] of special trust” or “position[s] of authority.” UTAH CODE § 76-5-404.1(4)(h). This question leads to three possible interpretations of the statute that impact the elements of the crime of which Mr. Watkins was convicted. ¶19 The first possible interpretation of the statute is advocated by the State and was adopted by the district court and the court of appeals. Under this interpretation, the fact that a defendant occupies an enumerated position is the legal equivalent of proof both that the defendant occupies a “position of authority” and, “by reason of that position is able to exercise undue influence over the victim.” Under this reading of the statute, a finding that the defendant was an “adult cohabitant of a parent” would constitute proof that the defendant occupies a “position of special trust.” Thus, to aggravate a defendant’s sexual abuse of a child, the State need prove only that the defendant occupies an enumerated position “in relation to the victim.” Id. 5 STATE v. WATKINS Opinion of the Court ¶20 A second possible interpretation of section 76-5-404.1(4)(h) is that a defendant’s occupation of an enumerated position establishes only that the defendant occupies a “position of authority.” Under this interpretation, to establish that a defendant occupies a “position of special trust,” the State would be required to prove both that (1) the defendant occupies a position of authority (whether enumerated or not) in relation to the victim, and (2) the defendant, by reason of that position, “is able to exercise undue influence over the victim.” Id. ¶21 A third possible interpretation of the statute is the one advanced by Mr. Watkins. Under his proposed interpretation, the list of enumerated positions is merely illustrative of positions that are likely to fulfill the requirements of the aggravating statute. Thus, the occupation of such a position does not absolve the State of its burden to prove that the defendant met underlying elements of section 76-5-404.1(4)(h), namely that (1) the defendant actually occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim, and (2) by means of that position is able to exercise undue influence over the victim. Id.