Opinion ID: 1244705
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: reimbursement of defense costs

Text: Finally, defendant argues that it was improper for the trial court, as part of his sentence, to order him to reimburse the county for the costs of his defense. We will not set aside a sentence imposed by a trial court unless the sentence represents an abuse of discretion, the trial court failed to consider all relevant factors, or the sentence imposed exceeded the limits prescribed by law. State v. Gibbons, 779 P.2d 1133, 1135 (Utah 1989). Utah Code Ann. § 77-32a-1 allows the trial court to require a convicted defendant to make restitution and pay costs. Section 77-32a-3, however, states that before including in the judgment a sentence that a defendant pay costs, the court must determine whether the defendant will be able to pay them. In this case, the court apparently failed to consider defendant's financial status before assessing defense costs. Accordingly, if this issue recurs on remand, we instruct the trial judge to consider and make findings regarding defendant's ability to pay any costs levied. The conviction is reversed, and this matter is remanded to the district court for a new trial. HOWE, A.C.J., and ZIMMERMAN, J., concur.