State v. Beckstrom , 739 Utah Adv. Rep. 4 ( 2013 )


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    2013 UT App 186
    _________________________________________________________
    THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS
    STATE OF UTAH,
    Plaintiff and Appellee,
    v.
    TANGA BECKSTROM,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    Opinion
    No. 20111081‐CA
    Filed July 26, 2013
    Fourth District, Provo Department
    The Honorable James R. Taylor
    No. 101400296
    Aaron P. Dodd and Dustin Parmley, Attorneys for
    Appellant
    John E. Swallow and Ryan D. Tenney, Attorneys
    for Appellee
    JUDGE MICHELE M. CHRISTIANSEN authored this Opinion, in
    which JUDGES WILLIAM A. THORNE JR. and CAROLYN B. MCHUGH
    concurred.
    CHRISTIANSEN, Judge:
    ¶1     Defendant Tanga Beckstrom appeals from an order of
    restitution entered after her felony conviction for driving under the
    influence of alcohol (DUI) that resulted in serious bodily injury to
    another.1 We affirm.
    BACKGROUND
    ¶2    On an evening in January 2010, a vehicle operated by
    Defendant abruptly turned onto State Street in Lehi and proceeded
    1. We commend the parties for their exemplary oral arguments in
    this case.
    State v. Beckstrom
    in the direction of oncoming traffic. Defendant’s vehicle collided
    with a car driven by a married couple (Husband and Wife).
    Defendant was heavily intoxicated at the time of the accident.
    Although Defendant was not seriously hurt, Husband and Wife
    were both seriously injured—indeed, Husband sustained
    permanent brain damage. Police officers responded to the scene
    shortly after the accident.
    ¶3      Because of heavy snowfall and poor road conditions, the
    officers asked Defendant to accompany them to the police station
    so that field sobriety tests could be conducted in a lighted, heated,
    and secured parking garage. The officers arrested Defendant at the
    station after she failed the field sobriety tests, admitted to
    consuming numerous shots of vodka prior to the accident, and
    registered a blood alcohol content of .228—nearly three times the
    legal limit.2 The State charged Defendant with one count of DUI, see
    
    Utah Code Ann. § 41
    ‐6a‐502 (LexisNexis 2010), a third degree
    felony based on the serious bodily injury suffered by Husband, see
    
    id.
     § 41‐6a‐503(2)(a), and one count of failing to yield, see id.
    § 41‐6a‐903, a class C misdemeanor, see id. § 41‐6a‐202(2).
    ¶4     Defendant filed a motion to suppress the evidence the
    officers gathered at the station, which the trial court denied.
    Defendant subsequently pleaded no contest to a third degree
    felony DUI, conditioned on her right to appeal the denial of her
    suppression motion.3 Specifically, Defendant agreed to the
    following factual basis in her plea agreement:
    2. “[U]nder Utah law, a ‘blood or breath alcohol concentration of
    .08 grams or greater’ is over the legal limit, rendering a person
    unable to drive legally.” See Taylorsville City v. Taylorsville City Emp.
    Appeal Bd., 
    2013 UT App 69
    , ¶ 4 n.1, 
    298 P.3d 1270
     (quoting 
    Utah Code Ann. § 41
    ‐6a‐502(1)(a) (LexisNexis 2010)).
    3. This court has since affirmed the trial court’s denial of
    Defendant’s suppression motion. See State v. Beckstrom, 
    2013 UT App 104
    , ¶ 15, 
    300 P.3d 773
    .
    20111081‐CA                        2                 
    2013 UT App 186
    State v. Beckstrom
    On or about 22 January 2010, in Lehi, Utah County
    [Defendant] operated a motor vehicle at a time when
    [she] was under the influence of alcohol to a degree
    that [she] could not safely operate the vehicle; as a
    result of entering a lane of travel, [she] collided with
    another vehicle; a passenger of the other vehicle
    suffered loss of consciousness and traumatic brain
    injury resulting in protracted impairment of his brain
    function.
    On March 3, 2011, Defendant was sentenced to probation for thirty‐
    six months, a jail term of 180 days, and a fine of $2,883. The issue
    of restitution was to be “held open.”
    ¶5      The trial court scheduled a hearing for May 12, 2011, to
    determine restitution. However, that hearing was continued until
    June 16 so Defendant’s trial counsel (Trial Counsel) could review
    Husband’s and Wife’s restitution information with the civil
    attorney that was handling those issues. Trial Counsel advised the
    court that he wanted to investigate Husband’s and Wife’s claimed
    expenses further before deciding whether to contest those amounts
    in the criminal case. At the June 16 restitution hearing, Defendant,
    acting on the advice of Trial Counsel, stipulated to complete
    restitution in the amount of $5,442.24 for Wife and $92,036.03 for
    Husband. The court then scheduled a review hearing to determine
    the amount of court‐ordered restitution and instructed Defendant
    to complete a financial affidavit in preparation for that hearing.
    ¶6      Prior to the review hearing, Defendant filed a motion to
    reconsider and vacate the order of complete restitution. Defendant
    argued that despite her stipulation, the complete restitution order
    violated her due process rights because it was an unconstitutional
    taking and because it became a civil judgment against her even
    though a determination of comparative fault was never made. On
    November 17, 2011, the day of the restitution review hearing, the
    trial court denied Defendant’s motion to vacate, thereby binding
    her to the stipulated amount. In addition, the court ruled that based
    on the evidence presented at the hearing, Defendant was capable
    of paying $300 per month in court‐ordered restitution over the
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    State v. Beckstrom
    course of her probation. The court also extended Defendant’s
    probationary period to ninety‐six months. Thus, the court’s
    amended order of restitution required Defendant to pay court‐
    ordered restitution in the amount of $28,800, with $1,607 to be paid
    to Wife and $27,193 to be paid to Husband. Defendant appeals.
    ISSUES AND STANDARDS OF REVIEW
    ¶7     On appeal, Defendant challenges the trial court’s
    determination of both complete restitution and court‐ordered
    restitution. “[I]n the case of restitution, a reviewing court will not
    disturb a district court’s determination unless the court exceeds the
    authority prescribed by law or abuses its discretion.” State v.
    Laycock, 
    2009 UT 53
    , ¶ 10, 
    214 P.3d 104
    . With regard to the complete
    restitution amount, we must first determine if Defendant’s
    stipulation to an amount of complete restitution precludes her
    claims on appeal. Defendant argues that even if she is estopped
    from challenging complete restitution, Trial Counsel rendered
    ineffective assistance by advising her to stipulate to the amount of
    complete restitution. “An ineffective assistance of counsel claim
    raised for the first time on appeal presents a question of law.” State
    v. Clark, 
    2004 UT 25
    , ¶ 6, 
    89 P.3d 162
    .
    ANALYSIS
    I. Defendant’s Stipulation Estops Her from Challenging the
    Complete Restitution Determination on Appeal.
    ¶8      Defendant argues that the trial court’s acceptance of the
    stipulated amount of complete restitution was erroneous because
    the court unconstitutionally deprived her of her right to due
    process and abused its discretion in entering the complete
    restitution order without providing an opportunity to discover and
    present evidence of comparative negligence. “When a defendant is
    convicted of criminal activity that has resulted in pecuniary
    damages, in addition to any other sentence it may impose, the
    court shall order that the defendant make restitution to victims of
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    State v. Beckstrom
    [the defendant’s] crime . . . .” 
    Utah Code Ann. § 77
    ‐38a‐302(1)
    (LexisNexis 2012). When making a restitution determination, the
    court “shall determine complete restitution and court‐ordered
    restitution.” 
    Id.
     § 77‐38a‐302(2). “‘Complete restitution’ means
    restitution necessary to compensate a victim for all losses caused
    by the defendant,” whereas “‘[c]ourt‐ordered restitution’ means the
    restitution the court . . . orders the defendant to pay as a part of the
    criminal sentence at the time of sentencing or within one year after
    sentencing.” Id. § 77‐38a‐302(2)(a)–(b).
    ¶9        Defendant is estopped from raising her complete restitution
    claims on appeal because she stipulated to the amount of complete
    restitution and did not properly challenge the trial court’s denial of
    her motion to vacate that stipulation. In Prinsburg State Bank v.
    Abundo, 
    2012 UT 94
    , 
    296 P.3d 709
    , the supreme court observed that
    because “stipulations are binding on the parties and the court,” “a
    stipulation entered into by the parties and accepted by the court
    ‘acts as an estoppel upon the parties thereto and is conclusive of all
    matters necessarily included in the stipulation.’” Id. ¶ 13 (quoting
    Yeargin, Inc. v. Auditing Div. of the Utah State Tax Commʹn, 
    2001 UT 11
    , ¶ 20, 
    20 P.3d 287
    ). Also, the moment “a court adopts a
    stipulation of the parties, the issues to which the parties have
    stipulated become ‘settled’ and [are] ‘not reserved for future
    consideration.’” Id. ¶ 14 (quoting Amoss v. Bennion, 
    517 P.2d 1008
    ,
    1009–10 (Utah 1973)); see also Rivera v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.,
    
    2000 UT 36
    , ¶ 11, 
    1 P.3d 539
     (“[T]here is an institutional hesitancy
    to relieve a party from a stipulation negotiated and entered into
    with the advice of counsel.” (citation and internal quotation marks
    omitted)). Thus, “[a] party who stipulates to a court’s actions ‘may
    not . . . complain about them on appeal.’” Prinsburg State Bank, 
    2012 UT 94
    , ¶ 13 (omission in original) (quoting DLB Collection Trust v.
    Harris, 
    893 P.2d 593
    , 595 (Utah Ct. App. 1995)).
    ¶10 Accompanied by Trial Counsel, Defendant stipulated to the
    amount of complete restitution in open court. Prior to entering into
    the stipulation, Defendant received the advice of Trial Counsel and
    had more than three months after the sentencing hearing to
    consider whether to enter into the stipulation. Trial Counsel even
    requested and received a continuance of the original restitution
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    State v. Beckstrom
    hearing so he could review Husband’s and Wife’s restitution
    information with Husband and Wife’s civil attorney. Trial Counsel
    expressed his desire to investigate the validity of the claimed
    expenses before having Defendant stipulate to such an amount.
    Thus, it is clear that Defendant, with the advice of Trial Counsel,
    willingly entered into a binding stipulation with full opportunity
    to investigate the attendant circumstances and consequences of
    doing so. Accordingly, we hold that Defendant is estopped from
    contesting the trial court’s determination of complete restitution.4
    ¶11 There are instances where a trial court “may exercise its
    discretion to set aside a stipulation,” assuming certain conditions
    are met. Prinsburg State Bank, 
    2012 UT 94
    , ¶ 14. “‘First, the party
    seeking relief from the stipulation must request it by motion from
    the trial court. Second, the motion . . . must be timely filed. Third,
    [the motion] must show that the stipulation was entered into
    inadvertently’ or that it should be set aside ‘for justifiable cause.’”
    
    Id.
     (omission in original) (quoting Yeargin, 
    2001 UT 11
    , ¶ 21). A
    finding of inadvertence or justifiable cause is available only “‘if the
    mistake is not due to failure to exercise due diligence and it could
    not have been avoided by the exercise of ordinary care.’” 
    Id.
    (quoting Rivera, 
    2000 UT 36
    , ¶ 11). However, “‘it is unlikely that a
    stipulation signed by counsel and filed with the court was entered
    into inadvertently.’” 
    Id.
     (quoting Yeargin, 
    2001 UT 11
    , ¶ 21).
    4. In accepting a defendant’s stipulation to an amount of complete
    restitution, it may be prudent for the trial court to conduct a
    colloquy in which the court warns the defendant of the rights he or
    she will forfeit by entering into the stipulation. Such rights include
    having the court “make the reasons for the [complete restitution]
    decision part of the court record” and hold “a full hearing on the
    issue” if “the defendant objects to the imposition, amount, or
    distribution of the restitution .” 
    Utah Code Ann. § 77
    ‐38a‐302(3)–(4)
    (LexisNexis 2012). Additionally, where there is a “limited factual
    basis” for the trial court’s determination of restitution, a defendant
    may request, under some circumstances, that “the facts . . . be
    established in a civil litigation setting.” State v. Laycock, 
    2009 UT 53
    ,
    ¶ 27, 
    214 P.3d 104
    .
    20111081‐CA                        6                 
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    State v. Beckstrom
    ¶12 Defendant argues that the trial court should have set aside
    her stipulation for justifiable cause, as outlined in her motion to
    vacate and that “whether the trial court erred in failing to do so,
    ultimately depend[s] on this Court’s resolution of the substantive
    issues in this case.” Yet Defendant raises this challenge expressly
    for the first time in her reply brief, not in her opening brief. For
    instance, arguments I and II of Defendant’s opening brief—the only
    sections that discuss complete restitution—are limited to the
    reasons why Defendant believes the court reached its complete
    restitution determination in error. We will not construe these
    arguments as a direct appeal of the denial of her motion to vacate
    her stipulation because they present separate and independent
    issues. Furthermore, Defendant does not identify in her opening
    brief an applicable standard of review5 or the controlling legal
    principles governing review of a denial of a motion to vacate a
    stipulation. “It is well settled that ‘issues raised by an appellant in
    the reply brief that were not presented in the opening brief are
    considered waived and will not be considered by the appellate
    court.’” Allen v. Friel, 
    2008 UT 56
    , ¶ 8, 
    194 P.3d 903
     (quoting Brown
    v. Glover, 
    2000 UT 89
    , ¶ 23, 
    16 P.3d 540
    ); see also Utah R. App. P.
    24(c) (“Reply briefs shall be limited to answering any new matter
    set forth in the opposing brief.”). Because Defendant did not
    properly appeal the court’s denial of her motion to vacate, we
    decline to consider whether justifiable cause existed to set aside her
    stipulation.6
    5. Normally, “a district court’s decision to enforce a stipulation is
    reviewed for an abuse of discretion.” Prinsburg State Bank v.
    Abundo, 
    2012 UT 94
    , ¶ 10, 
    296 P.3d 709
    ; see also Rivera v. State Farm
    Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 
    2000 UT 36
    , ¶ 7, 
    1 P.3d 539
     (“A motion to strike
    stipulated facts is reviewed under an abuse of discretion
    standard.”); Mascaro v. Davis, 
    741 P.2d 938
    , 942 n.11 (Utah 1987)
    (“The decision of a trial court to summarily enforce a settlement
    agreement will not be reversed on appeal unless it is shown that
    there was an abuse of discretion.”).
    6. In her opening brief, Defendant refers to the trial court’s denial
    of her motion to vacate the stipulation in arguing that Trial Counsel
    (continued...)
    20111081‐CA                       7                 
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    State v. Beckstrom
    II. Defendant’s Claim of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Fails
    Because Trial Counsel’s Performance Was Not Deficient.
    ¶13 Defendant contends that by advising her to enter into the
    stipulation, Trial Counsel rendered ineffective assistance. To
    prevail on a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant
    “‘must show that counsel’s performance was deficient’” and “that
    the deficient performance prejudiced the defense.” State v.
    Tennyson, 
    850 P.2d 461
    , 465 (Utah Ct. App. 1993) (quoting Strickland
    v. Washington, 
    466 U.S. 668
    , 687 (1984)). In order to establish
    deficient performance, the “defendant ‘must show that counsel’s
    representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.’”
    
    Id.
     (quoting Strickland, 
    466 U.S. at 688
    ). “A defendant must . . .
    overcome the strong presumptions that counsel’s performance fell
    ‘within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance’ and
    that ‘under the circumstances, the challenged action might be
    considered sound trial strategy.’” 
    Id.
     (quoting Strickland, 
    466 U.S. at 689
    ). Additionally, “an ineffective assistance claim succeeds only
    when no conceivable legitimate tactic or strategy can be surmised
    from counsel’s actions.” Id. at 468. To demonstrate prejudice, the
    defendant must show that “there is a reasonable probability that
    ‘but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
    proceeding would have been different.’” Id. at 466 (quoting
    Strickland, 
    466 U.S. at 694
    ). A defendant’s claim of ineffective
    assistance will fail if either prong is not established. Id.
    6. (...continued)
    rendered ineffective assistance. However, this singular reference to
    the court’s ruling couched in the context of an ineffective assistance
    of counsel claim does not constitute a reviewable claim on appeal.
    See State v. Marchet, 
    2012 UT App 267
    , ¶ 7 n.3, 
    287 P.3d 490
     (mem.)
    (declining to address a defendant’s appeal of the trial court’s
    decision regarding jury instructions because the issue was raised
    and directly discussed only in the reply brief, despite reference to
    the issue in the opening brief as it related to a claim of ineffective
    assistance of counsel).
    20111081‐CA                       8                
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    State v. Beckstrom
    ¶14 Defendant argues that Trial Counsel “had no tactical or
    strategic basis to stipulate to the amount of complete restitution,”
    because the decision to stipulate was based on a “confused and
    mistaken interpretation of precedent.” Defendant points to the
    motion to vacate as an acknowledgment by Trial Counsel of his
    alleged error. Whether Trial Counsel’s performance was deficient
    in this respect requires us to analyze the substantive legal
    precedent Defendant cited as the basis for vacating the stipulation.
    However, such an inquiry is unnecessary because we conclude that
    Trial Counsel’s decision to stipulate, by itself, does not demonstrate
    objectively deficient performance. In other words, there were a
    variety of conceivable strategic reasons supporting Trial Counsel’s
    advice that Defendant enter into the stipulation.
    ¶15 For example, before advising Defendant, Trial Counsel was
    entitled to evaluate this case in its broader context. The same trial
    judge who had originally presided over Defendant’s case would
    also preside over the upcoming court‐ordered restitution hearing
    and would ultimately make the restitution determination. One
    of the factors that the trial judge would consider in the court‐
    ordered restitution hearing was “the rehabilitative effect on the
    defendant of the [restitution] payment.” See 
    Utah Code Ann. § 77
    ‐38a‐302(5)(c)(iii) (LexisNexis 2012). Unless Trial Counsel could
    actually prove negligence on the part of the victims—which
    appears unlikely from the record—Trial Counsel could reasonably
    have concluded that stipulating to the amount of complete
    restitution would show the judge that Defendant had accepted
    responsibility for her crime. This is particularly true in light of
    Defendant’s prior admission to driving drunk at the time of the
    accident. From this contrite position, Defendant might have had a
    better chance of convincing the judge to not impose the full amount
    of complete restitution as court‐ordered restitution.
    ¶16 Moreover, had Trial Counsel not advised Defendant to
    stipulate, the trial court could have calculated complete restitution
    at a higher level than the stipulated amount. Information presented
    to the court at sentencing revealed that Defendant’s offense had a
    large financial impact on Husband and Wife. Husband and Wife
    advised the court that their expenses included the many medical
    20111081‐CA                       9                
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    State v. Beckstrom
    bills for both Husband and Wife; the wages lost for both Husband
    and Wife during their two‐month recuperation period in which
    they were unable to work; Husband’s inability to have a company
    car since the car involved in the accident belonged to his employer;
    the resulting costs of buying a new car, including insurance, gas,
    and maintenance expenses; the lingering effect of Husband’s
    permanent brain damage, cognitive deficiencies, and sinus
    complications resulting from a broken nose caused by the accident;
    and the emotional effect on Husband and Wife’s children who
    became afraid whenever Husband and Wife left them.7 Even if the
    court were to consider mitigating evidence of Husband’s and
    Wife’s comparative negligence, it is entirely possible that the
    cumulative cost of these harms would still exceed the stipulated
    amount. Thus, Defendant’s stipulation established a firm limit on
    Husband’s and Wife’s recovery in restitution and eliminated any
    accompanying uncertainty. Defendant’s stipulation may have also
    dissuaded Husband and Wife from pursuing additional damages
    in a civil suit by providing them an opportunity to calculate and
    agree to an appropriate amount of restitution.
    ¶17 Finally, the original restitution hearing was continued for
    more than a month so that Trial Counsel could review Husband’s
    and Wife’s restitution information with a civil attorney. Trial
    Counsel told the trial court that he wanted to investigate the
    validity of Husband’s and Wife’s claimed expenses before making
    a decision on whether to contest such expenses as a measure of
    complete restitution. Following this extensive preparation, Trial
    Counsel apparently concluded that the best course of action was to
    advise his client to stipulate. The specific information
    communicated between Trial Counsel and Husband and Wife’s
    civil attorney is not contained in the record. It is precisely for
    circumstances such as these—where “[Trial Counsel] observed the
    relevant proceedings, knew of materials outside the record, and
    7. The record does not indicate what percentage of Husband’s and
    Wife’s expenses were covered by insurance; however, insurance
    companies may also be considered “victims” for purposes of
    restitution. See State v. Dominguez, 
    1999 UT App 343
    , ¶ 8, 
    992 P.2d 995
    .
    20111081‐CA                     10               
    2013 UT App 186
    State v. Beckstrom
    interacted with the client, with opposing counsel, and with the
    judge”—that “the standard for judging counsel’s representation is
    a most deferential one.” See Harrington v. Richter, 
    131 S. Ct. 770
    , 788
    (2011).
    ¶18 Because “this court will not second‐guess trial counsel’s
    legitimate strategic choices, however flawed those choices might
    appear in retrospect,” we conclude that Trial Counsel’s decision to
    advise Defendant to stipulate to the complete restitution amount
    was not objectively deficient performance because that decision
    was, “‘under the circumstances, . . . action [that] might be
    considered sound trial strategy.’” See State v. Tennyson, 
    850 P.2d 461
    , 465 (Utah Ct. App. 1993) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 
    466 U.S. 668
    , 689 (1984)). Accordingly, we deny Defendant’s claim of
    ineffective assistance of counsel.
    III. The Trial Court’s Determination of Court‐Ordered
    Restitution Was Not an Abuse of Discretion.
    ¶19 Last, Defendant argues that the trial court failed to consider
    the required statutory factors in determining court‐ordered
    restitution. See State v. Valdovinos, 
    2003 UT App 432
    , ¶ 14, 
    82 P.3d 1167
     (“An abuse of discretion results when the judge fails to
    consider all legally relevant factors . . . .” (citation and internal
    quotation marks omitted)). Utah Code section 77‐38a‐302(5)(c) lists
    factors that courts “shall consider” in “determining the monetary
    sum and other conditions for court‐ordered restitution.” 
    Utah Code Ann. § 77
    ‐38a‐302(5)(c). These factors include
    (i) the financial resources of the defendant and the
    burden that payment of restitution will impose, with
    regard to the other obligations of the defendant;
    (ii) the ability of the defendant to pay restitution on
    an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed
    by the court;
    (iii) the rehabilitative effect on the defendant of the
    payment of restitution and the method of payment;
    and
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    State v. Beckstrom
    (iv) other circumstances which the court determines
    may make restitution inappropriate.
    
    Id.
     § 77‐38a‐302(5)(c)(i)–(iv). “[A]s a general rule, we presume that
    the district court made all the necessary considerations when
    making a sentencing [and restitution] decision,” State v. Moa, 
    2012 UT 28
    , ¶ 35, 
    282 P.3d 985
    , and “[a]bsent some indication in the
    record to the contrary, we will presume that the trial court knew
    the law,” State v. Sessions, 
    2012 UT App 273
    , ¶ 44, 
    287 P.3d 497
    , cert.
    granted, 
    298 P.3d 69
     (Utah 2013).
    ¶20 Defendant contends that the trial court failed to consider
    the burden that the restitution order would impose on her with
    regard to her other financial obligations. See 
    Utah Code Ann. § 77
    ‐38a‐302(5)(c)(i) (LexisNexis 2012). Prior to the complete
    restitution hearing, Defendant submitted a financial affidavit to the
    court. The affidavit revealed that at the time of the restitution
    hearing, Defendant had a monthly income of $1,100, that she
    earned working part‐time as a waitress at a café owned by her
    mother. The affidavit also established that her monthly expenses
    totaled $1,130. Furthermore, Defendant testified at the restitution
    hearing that her children’s father owed her approximately $12,000
    in back child support but that she was unable to collect that debt.
    The State noted that if Defendant worked full‐time, she could
    afford to pay more in restitution. The court agreed, stating,
    “[Defendant]’s given . . . no reason to conclude that she’s not able
    to work full time . . . .” The court then ordered Defendant to pay a
    total of $28,800 in restitution. That amount was to be paid in
    monthly payments of $300 for a period of ninety‐six months. Trial
    Counsel objected, arguing that if Defendant were compelled to
    work more hours, she would incur additional child care expenses.
    The court indicated that it “understood” Defendant’s situation but
    that its ruling was nonetheless reasonable. The court also noted
    that there was “no easy outcome” in making its restitution
    determination but that the amount it ordered Defendant to pay was
    still less than one‐third of the amount to which Defendant had
    stipulated as complete restitution. Thus, the record clearly indicates
    that the court considered the burden that the restitution order
    would impose on Defendant in light of her other financial
    obligations.
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    State v. Beckstrom
    ¶21 Defendant also argues that the trial court failed to
    consider “other circumstances which . . . may make restitution
    inappropriate.” See 
    id.
     § 77‐38a‐302(5)(c)(iv). Specifically, Defendant
    argues that the court should have allowed her to “gather and
    present evidence of [Husband’s and Wife’s] comparative
    negligence.” However, Defendant stipulated to an amount of
    complete restitution that far exceeded the amount actually ordered
    by the court. Defendant entered into that stipulation on the advice
    of Trial Counsel who had conducted a thorough investigation. And
    although it is true that Defendant later attempted to vacate that
    stipulation, the court considered Defendant’s arguments on this
    point, concluded they were without merit, and ruled that
    Defendant’s stipulation was binding. Indeed, the court noted that
    it “hear[d] the preliminary hearing in this case” and that its
    “conclusion [was] that there is no . . . rational or reasonable
    evidence from which [it] or any finder of fact could find any kind
    of contributory negligence.” Thus, Defendant has not shown that
    the court abused its discretion by failing to consider this statutory
    factor.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶22 We conclude that Defendant’s stipulation estops her from
    challenging the amount of complete restitution on appeal.
    Additionally, Defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel
    fails because she has not demonstrated deficient performance. Last,
    we determine that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
    determining court‐ordered restitution because it adequately
    considered the relevant statutory factors. Accordingly, we affirm.
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