State v. Pando

*674OPINION (For Official Publication)

GREENWOOD, Judge:

¶ 1 Defendant Stephan A. Pando appeals his felony convictions for rape, forcible sodomy, distributing a controlled substance, obstructing justice, and tampering with a witness. See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-402 (1999); id. § 76-5^103(2) (1999); id. § 58-37-8(l)(a)(ii) (Supp.1999); id. § 76-8-306(1) (1999); id. § 76-8-508(1) (1999). Specifically, Defendant argues that the trial court erred by improperly trying him in absentia and declining to substitute his appointed trial counsel. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

¶ 2 After being charged with rape, forcible…