Opinion ID: 2639282
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: standard of review

Text: [¶ 9] The parties' contentions present an issue of first impression in Wyoming and require that we interpret the statutory scheme governing restitution, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-9-101 through 115. As of July 1, 2000, a number of amendments to some of these statutes became effective. Applicable general principles of statutory construction include: if the language is clear and unambiguous, we must abide by the plain meaning of the statute; if a statute is ambiguous, we may resort to general principles of construction; an ambiguous statute is one whose meaning is uncertain and susceptible of more than one meaning; and in a criminal statute, an ambiguity should be resolved in favor of lenity. Amrein v. State, 836 P.2d 862, 864-65 (Wyo. 1992). This Court construes statutes in pari materia, giving effect to each word, clause, and sentence so that no part will be inoperative or superfluous. Mazurek v. State, 10 P.3d 531, 541 (Wyo.2000). We will not construe a statute in a manner which renders any portion meaningless or produces an absurd result. Id.