Court Opinion

ID: 9777719
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 20:21:34.595974+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:00.288048
License: Public Domain

VOIGT, Justice,
specially concurring.
[¶19] To prove forgery under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-602(a) (LexisNexis 2011), the State must prove that the defendant acted "with intent to defraud." That requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intended "[tlo cause injury or loss to (a person) by deceit." Black's Law Dictionary 488 (9th ed. 2009). I agree with the majority that the State failed to meet that burden, and reversal is therefore required. My difference with the majority is that I believe that is the point where the opinion should stop; we should not attempt to declare whether or not the act of signing one's own name under these cireumstances may be an act of forgery. That question should be left for another day, when it needs to be answered. Here, the majority's finding of abuse of discretion and its determination to reverse is based solely upon the State's failure to prove intent to defraud.