People v. Fallis

Citations

• 2017 COA 131

Syllabus

Defendant was charged and arrested for allegedly murdering his wife. The district court set a $500,000 bond. Defendant posted bond through Perna by paying a $25,000 premium. Thereafter, defendant cooperated with all court orders and appeared at all hearings. Fourteen months later, just before defendant's trial was to begin, Perna moved to surrender defendant back into the custody of the court. The court granted the motion. Defendant spent several days in jail while his family secured a second bond and paid another $25,000 premium to a different surety to secure defendant's release. Defendant was ultimately acquitted. Defendant moved for return of the premium he had paid to Perna, which the court partially granted, ordering Perna to return $11,031.25 to defendant. On appeal, Perna contended that the district court erred by ordering that he refund a portion of the bond premium to defendant. Under CRS § 16-4-110(1)(d), a court may order return of all or part of the premium defendant paid to prevent unjust enrichment only if the surrender occurred before the defendant's initial appearance. Here, Perna surrendered defendant to the court 14 months after the court process began, well after defendant's initial appearance. Accordingly, the court was without the authority to order Perna to refund all or part of defendant's premium. The order was vacated.