Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
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State v. Trent, ___ N.C. App. ___, 803 S.E.2d 224 (Aug. 1, 2017)
The trial court did not err by revoking the defendant’s probation based on its finding that he willfully absconded from supervision. In so ruling, the court rejected the defendant’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion by making its oral findings of fact without explicitly stating the legal standard of proof. Noting that it has held that a trial court’s failure to state the standard of proof underlying its findings may constitute reversible error when certain protected interests are involved, it has never so held in the context of a probation hearing. The court noted that “Although the trial court failed to employ the best practice and explicitly state the legal standard of proof,” the totality of the trial court’s statements indicate that it was reasonably satisfied in light of all the evidence presented that a willful violation had occurred. Reviewing the facts of the case, the court also rejected the defendant’s argument that there was insufficient evidence that he willfully absconded from supervision.