State v. Stephens, 52 P.3d 1086 (Or. Ct. App. 2002)

Cases | State v. Stephens, 52 P.3d 1086 (Or. Ct. App. 2002) | 2018

The defendant was convicted of unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle and was ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution for damage done to the vehicle. On appeal, the defendant argued the restitution order was improper because there was no evidence establishing a causal connection between his criminal activities and the victim’s pecuniary harm. The court of appeals held that a causal connection may be established when pecuniary harm is caused indirectly by the defendant’s criminal activities if, “but for” the defendant’s criminal activity, the victim would not have suffered pecuniary harm. The trial court’s ruling was affirmed.