State v. Allen

OPINION

BERCH, Chief Justice.

¶ 1 This case addresses whether a court must engage a defendant who stipulates to the elements of a criminal offense in a colloquy like that afforded a defendant who pleads guilty. We conclude that, unless the defendant pleads guilty to an offense, no specific colloquy is required by Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969), or Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 17.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶ 2 Two undercover Phoenix police officers heard screams as they drove through their assigned neighborhood on December 8, 2006. They saw…