Appeal
from the Superior Court in Yuma County No. S1400CR201701293
The Honorable Brandon S. Kinsey, Judge.
Yuma
County Public Defender's Office, Yuma By Eugene Marquez
Counsel for Appellant
Arizona Attorney General's Office, Phoenix By Jana Zinman
Counsel for Appellee
Presiding Judge Samuel A. Thumma delivered the opinion of the
Court, in which Judge Jennifer M. Perkins and Judge Paul J.
McMurdie joined.
OPINION
THUMMA, JUDGE.
¶1
Defendant Carlos Leal appeals a restitution order requiring
him to pay $5, 500 in funeral expenses for a man he shot and
killed in a bar. Leal does not challenge his murder
conviction or resulting prison sentence. He does not argue
the funeral expenses were unreasonable or unpaid. Instead,
because the restitution award went to the Quechan Indian
Tribe, rather than to a member of the victim's family,
Leal argues the order was fundamental error. Because Leal has
shown no error, the restitution order is affirmed.
FACTS
AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2
In December 2017, while sitting at a bar, Leal shot the
victim in the face at point-blank range, killing him. After
Leal walked out of the bar, he was arrested, and a jury later
convicted him of first-degree murder. The court sentenced him
to natural life in prison.
¶3
The presentence report requested $5, 500 in restitution for
funeral expenses. The report stated the Tribe paid the
funeral expenses and attached a general ledger showing
payment of that amount by the Tribe to Yuma Mortuary &
Crematory. At sentencing, without objection or argument, the
court ordered Leal to pay $5, 500 in restitution to the
Tribe. This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
¶4
Leal challenges the restitution order, asserting the Tribe is
not a victim and that the funeral expenses were
indistinguishable from the routine expenses of the Tribe.
Because Leal did not object in the superior court, this court
reviews for fundamental error resulting in prejudice. See
State v. Escalante, 245 Ariz. 135, 140 ¶ 12 (2018).
Issues of statutory interpretation are reviewed de novo.
State v. Lantz, 245 Ariz. 451, 453 ¶ 9 (App.
2018).
I.
The Tribe Properly Could Be Awarded Restitution for
Funeral Expenses.
¶5
Leal argues the Tribe must be a victim to collect
restitution, relying exclusively on A.R.S. §§
13-603(C) and 13-4401(19) (2019).[1] As to A.R.S. §
13-4401(19), Leal shows with some force that the Tribe may
not have qualified as a "victim" for purposes of
notice, the right to be heard and other provisions under
Chapter 40 (Crime Victims' Rights) of A.R.S. Title 13.
See A.R.S. §§ 13-4401 to -4443. That fact,
however, does not mean the restitution order was improper.
¶6
The general statute authorizing disposition components for
...