Opinion ID: 1347889
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: denial of vargas' motion to sever

Text: Vargas does not contend that joinder of the four counts on a single information was improper or prejudicial, only that the four counts should not have been tried together. W.R.Cr.P. 14 provides the standard for severance: If it appears that a defendant or the state is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses   , the court may order an election or separate trials of counts    or provide whatever other relief justice requires. It is the moving party's burden to prove that prejudice will result from joinder of offenses. Dobbins v. State, 483 P.2d 255, 259 (Wyo.1971); see also Keene v. State, 835 P.2d 341, 347 (Wyo.1992). On appeal, it is incumbent upon Vargas to show that the finding was an abuse of discretion. This necessarily requires a showing that actual prejudice resulted from the trial. Pote v. State, 695 P.2d 617, 624 (Wyo.1985); Tabor v. State, 616 P.2d 1282, 1285 (Wyo.1980). Vargas' conclusory pleading to the district court, and reiteration thereof on appeal, failed to show prejudice or abuse of discretion. In addition, before the trial began, the district court properly instructed the jury on the need to keep the evidence on each count separated. Jurors were allowed to take notes to assist with this task. Although Vargas places little faith in the jury's ability to follow this instruction, we presume the opposite. Dobbins, 483 P.2d at 259. Vargas has failed to show that the district court's denial of his motion to sever was an abuse of judicial discretion.