State Ex Rel. Horne v. Rivas

OPINION

IRVINE, Judge.

¶ 1 This appeal arises out of civil forfeiture proceedings initiated by the State of Arizona. The State appeals the trial court’s order releasing certain seized property belonging to Juan Rivas (“Juan”). 1 It argues that although Juan was never provided with the required statutory notice the forfeiture was valid because he had actual knowledge of the State’s forfeiture action and failed to file a timely claim to the property pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 13-4311 (2010). 2 We hold that the State’s forfeiture efforts were ineffective because of the…