State v. Doporto

STEWART, Associate Chief Justice:

On appeal, Michael Doporto contests, on the basis of numerous asserted errors in the trial court, his conviction for sodomy on a child. He was sentenced to a prison term of fifteen years to life. We hold that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of prior crimes, vacate the verdict, and remand for a new trial.

I. FACTS

On March 17, 1993, the State charged Do-porto with the crime of sodomy on a child, a first degree felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-403.1. Doporto asserted that he was indigent and requested that the court appoint counsel for…