State v. Billsie

WILKINS, Associate Chief Justice:

¶ 1 Ricky Billsie seeks review of the court of appeals’ decision upholding the trial court’s refusal to exclude, pursuant to rule 615 of the Utah Rules of Evidence, the child-victim’s mother from the courtroom during the child’s testimony. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

¶ 2 The Defendant, Ricky Billsie, was charged with one count of sodomy of a child, two counts of rape of a chñd, and three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all of which are first degree felonies. During the preliminary hearing, the charge of sodomy of a child was dismissed, and the Defendant…