Salt Lake City v. Howe

Memorandum Decision

MORTENSEN, Judge:

¶1 As a dozen children enjoyed a mid-September day at a playground under the watchful eyes of their parents, Joseph Howe sat beneath a nearby tree and masturbated under a coat for ten to twenty minutes. Howe was convicted by a jury of lewdness involving a child, a class A misdemeanor, Howe appeals, arguing that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for a directed verdict. We affirm.

¶2 On an appeal from the denial of a motion for a directed verdict based on the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the…